Kelvin Sichilongo, our Event Associate Analyst, is a go-getter who is always driven to achieve what he sets his mind to. He describes himself as someone who enjoys traveling, reading, collecting books, and playing basketball. Kelvin studied IT at the Information and Communication University in Zambia. Throughout his journey in life, he has always believed that nothing is impossible, as the word itself says “I’m possible.” Even when fear finds its place in him, he strives by leaning on the words of an ancient physician who said, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
In his own words. Cellulant has been inspirational to him because its vision to enable seamless payments for businesses, banks, and consumers across Africa has not only put Africa on the map but has also been beneficial to merchants and has left a lasting impact on Africa as a whole.
Kelvin tells his Cellulant story:
What do you do at Cellulant?
What I do on a day to day job entails planning and execution of events that build our brand and offer us opportunities to onboard merchants . I also get to research and engage and partner with business associations that host the members that we want in our ecosystem.
What drives you?
Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible” Audrey Hepburn. The can do and go getter attitude fires up my engine and am driven to commit until the goal is reached.
Which company value do you resonate with? and why?
Lead with courage.
This value resonates with me because it emphasizes teamwork. When we work as a team, we achieve more and hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, commitment, and fiscal responsibility. This reminds me of the attitude of the king of the jungle, the lion. Despite being smaller and weaker than other animals, the lion leads with courage and understands that leadership requires teamwork. This has made the lion the monarch of the jungle. As it is respected by the animal kingdom more than any other animal.
Read Also;Cellulant Named Number One Payment Brand in Kenya
What would you say has been the most exciting part of the job?
Seeing how a retail payment experiment among curious young engineers under the tutelage of a visionary leader turned into what we now call the in-store payment method. A product that emerged as an idea was a testament to the disruptive nature of entrepreneurial thinking, calculated risk-taking, and innovation. To me, this came across as a promise that indeed, digital payment solutions can overcome cash. Just as cash conquered the barter system. Homegrown solutions have the potential of solving Africa’s teething problems.
What’s the one problem you are solving for clients in this market?
Through our payments platform Tingg by Cellulant, we have solved one problem for our merchants: the time-consuming and hectic reconciliation process. We have provided them with a seamless payment solution for their customers. The payment statistics have also enabled them to gain insights into consumer buying behavior, as they now have data to support it.
What has been the most rewarding moment?
- Getting the Cellulant Thursday recognition for going above and beyond and delivering on a deal where we signed up a partnership with the Lusaka Chambers of Commerce. Which at the time we had signed 8 enterprises and 2 SMB merchants. Also partnering with this association has enabled us to easily access a large number of merchants who we can onboard and digitize in Zambia.
- The most rewarding moment for us was when the Central Bank of Zambia launched their nationwide campaign, ‘Go Cashless’. The impressive adoption of fintechs like Cellulant, through our commercial team and other functions such as marketing, operations, and finance, was recognized. This motivated us to continue working towards making Zambia a cashless society. Our brand has also grown exponentially, now present in all 10 provinces of Zambia
What has been the greatest challenge/learning opportunity about the job?
The speed and intensity at which ideas ought to be grasped. The depth of understanding to which one is expected of in so far as solving Africa’s payments problems has been unequaled to what I knew. Familiarizing myself to this hypersonic, industrious and determined organization. This has meant that I am always learning fast and developing the zeal to execute with courage.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career & why?
Elon Musk “When Elon gets into something, he develops just this different level of interest in it than other people,” Farooq said in Vance’s book. “This is what differentiates Elon from the rest of humanity.” His ability to invest his entire fortune into a business he believes in baffles me. Elon Musk is a visionary, risk-taker, and is bold! He is not afraid of sharing his vision of the future with the public. Elon has turned Vision into Profit
Read Also; Cellulant Zambia Extends Services to over 2 Million Zanaco Bank Customers with Pay TV Offering
What do you love most about working at Cellulant?
Cross-functional collaboration, as Mr. Gilbert Lungu would always call it, is the amalgamation of everyone’s skill sets, experience, and knowledge in an effort to find solutions to our customers’ many problems. A sumptuous cake has all essential ingredients blended together, and as the team of Cellulant-ers achieve more, the ingrained ethos of “Together Everyone Achieves More” is reinforced. We all matter, and when all Cellulanters bring their A-game, we then win clean.
How do you want to be remembered?
A guy that valued & cherished the philosophy of TEAMWORK.
On a lighter note, what did you do for fun after office hours?
- Shooting three pointers in a Basketball game.
- Strumming the guitar
- Being engrossed in tragic fiction novels favorites being (wuthering heights & Jane Eyre).
In your own words, what does Cellulant want to do in Africa and why is that inspirational for you?
Cellulant is providing relevant and alternative payment methods that have proven to solve merchants’ payment problems. It is also connecting businesses and consumers. This has been an inspiration to me. It has not only put Africa on the map but has also been beneficial to merchants. Leaving a lasting impact on Africa as a whole.
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