Meet Erick Karanja, our (Technology Dude) Payment Methods Technical Lead. He has been with Cellulant for the past 4 years. Erick has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi, School of Computing and Information.
Erick describes himself as a passionate, result-oriented person who enjoys watching epic movies, playing soccer during his spare time and learning something new mostly in tech.
Here is his Cellulant story:
What do you do at Cellulant?
I am a servant leader to a group of brilliant engineers in the Payment Methods Team. Our goal is to deliver working payment options for our clients. This role requires one to have a great deal of professional experience in software development and a deep understanding of technology. One must be personable and capable enough to effectively lead a team and collaborate with others.
What attracted you to Cellulant?
- The transformative nature of the business: The company powers payments across various business models. This allows end consumers to easily and quickly pay for goods and services.
- The footprint of the business: At the time I learned about Cellulant, the company had already ventured into 33 markets. I knew for sure that this would be a great opportunity for me to work in a Pan-African company.
What drives you?
The passion to see work into completion and the value of my work to the customers and the business. I bet you know that saying, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
Steve Jobs. I closely follow his works and some of the philosophies he believed in. In most cases, I find the techniques of management, go-to-market strategies and technological choices still relevant to date.
What is something you wish you knew earlier in your life?
The summation of a team’s effort is way greater than an individual’s 100% efficacy. For a long time, I worked as a one-man team, delivering and achieving beyond my expectations. However, I have come to appreciate the hidden magic of collaboration and teamwork.
What would you say have been some of the most challenging moments for you?
Adapting to the Cellulant ecosystem: The journey was tough as I had to learn new concepts daily. However, with help and guidance from supportive colleagues, I enjoyed every tide.
Having to work on short-notice deliverables: This is normally attributed to the many high demands from our customers. The trick here is always to prioritize and focus on the bigger picture.
What have been the most rewarding moments?
Receiving the Most Transformative Techie of the Year Award. This was a great token for me, having participated in resolving key customer issues and delivering some of the most fruitful initiatives in the business.
What do you love most about working at Cellulant?
- Energized teams and brilliant individuals: Cellulant has brilliant minds who consequently end up forming energized teams. This is a motivating factor since it drives me to wake up to a new challenge every day.
- Management Support: Our top-level management is keen on supporting staff to be limitless in our growth. This is done through training and awarding of top performers through promotions and other necessary ways.
In your own words, what does Cellulant want to do in Africa and why is that inspirational for you?
Cellulant wants to revolutionize the payments industry in Africa by availing highly available and ready-to-use payment solutions. This is inspirational for me as I have a chance to use my skills to participate in this Pan-African revolution.
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Tell us a bit about your life outside Cellulant?
- Family Life: I am keen on spending quality time with my family. It’s always fun answering a few tech-related questions.
- Connecting with friends: I normally have catch-ups with my buddies once in a while to discuss trending topics around the globe.
- Upskilling and training others: I am keen on upskilling, as tech keeps on evolving. Besides that, I host a few online training sessions for tech enthusiasts.
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