Microsoft appoints Jack Ngare as managing director of Africa Development Centre site in Kenya

Microsoft appoints Jack Ngare as managing director of Africa Development Centre site in Kenya

Microsoft names managing director for its new Africa Development Centre site in Kenya. Jack Ngare will head Microsoft’s Africa Windows engineering team based in Nairobi, Kenya.

In May Microsoft announced a new milestone on the African continent. Launching a hundred million dollar investment which Microsoft believes will be at the forefront of building innovative solutions. The Africa Development Centre Microsoft also shared will serve as a centre of engineering for the world class African talent.

To lead these world class talents create solutions for local and global impact is Jack Ngare. Jack recently served as the managing director of Equitel, Finserve Africa Limited of Equity Group Holdings Limited. He has held various positions with experiences in emerging technology, management, financial services and telecommunications.

“This is such an incredible opportunity, to join an organisation that is truly empowering people globally, and in Africa, to achieve more.

I can’t wait to start my new journey as managing director and proud to lead such a talented team in Nairobi.

I also look forward to welcoming many more talented engineers to the centre as we all embark on this wonderful digital transformation journey.”

Jack Ngare,
MD. Africa Development Centre Nairobi

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella celebrated Global launch of Windows 10 in Nanyuki, Kenya on this day four years ago

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella celebrated Global launch of Windows 10 in Nanyuki, Kenya on this day four years ago

Four years ago, on the 29th of July 2015, Microsoft globally launched Windows 10. The latest version of its operating system(OS) for users of Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Window 8 Mobile. Introducing a much more user friendly OS with innovations, features and security capabilities. Satya Nadella who had been named new Microsoft CEO in February 2014 opted for an unusual mode of announcement. Deciding to join in the Windows 10 launch fans celebrations in Kenya.

Satya citied Microsoft’s core mission as well as wanting to go meet Microsoft’s global user base as reason for the decision. Read the full interview here.

I’m here in Kenya and in Nairobi to listen and learn. The core mission of Microsoft is to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.
I felt that in order to realize that mission with the Windows 10 launch we wanted to celebrate with our fans all over the world instead of going to a media-rich country
.
We wanted to go out there where our fans are because we are a truly global product and we have usage everywhere.”

Watch Satya Nadella talk about why he was in Kenya

Satya Helps students upgrade PCs to Windows 10

Windows 10 Launch Party

https://youtu.be/sciCLq4IReI

Satya Nadella Joins Window 10 fans celebrations in Nairobi

WISE4Afrika – Microsoft 4Afrika collaborates with Strathmore University to extend WISE Mentoring Program into Africa

WISE4Afrika – Microsoft 4Afrika collaborates with Strathmore University to extend WISE Mentoring Program into Africa

“Growing up as a woman in Kenya, there was a lack of female role models within STEM for me to engage with and learn from” says Wanjira Kamwere, program lead of WISE4Afrika. An initiative by Microsoft to inspire women to take up careers in technology. Microsoft through its 4Afrika engine is partnering with Strathmore University, Kenya to extend the WISE Mentoring Program into Africa.

WISE4Afrika, Wanjira Kamwere says is a manifestation of Mentors across Borders. An initiative pioneered by women tech leaders at the Microsoft India Development Centre and Microsoft Kenya.

“Diversity fuels better innovation and better business, which is why we [Microsoft] are actively focused on promoting diversity in today’s workforce”

WISE Mentoring Program

WISE Mentoring Program

Women in Software Engineering (WISE), is an idea by women engineers working at Microsoft India. These software engineers wanted to help women engineering students shape out successful careers in technology. After a successful program in India, Microsoft decided to scale the program up by taking it global. As empowering women in technology is a global issue.

Microsoft shares that 30 female students are receiving coaching from fellow female engineers and executives. Over nine months the students will recieve in-person and virtual training and coaching. Taking them through trainings on how to leverage AI and Machine Learning to build solutions. As well as learn to contribute to open source projects, participate in hackathons and submit proposals for papers and posters at conferences.

Wanjira Kamwere says that WISE4Afrika is currently running in only Strathmore University. However Microsoft hopes to follow an approach of starting small, learning, improving and then scaling the program to other African countries.

WISE Mentoring Program is one of the several initiatives by Microsoft in the region to encourage diversity and inclusion. Some others include the LEAP Hackathon program and Codess Kenya. “We are collectively supporting a culture where more women are attracted to careers in technology” she says.

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Microsoft MEA Multi-Country Cluster (MCC) wins top subsidiary award at Microsoft Inspire 2019

Microsoft MEA Multi-Country Cluster (MCC) wins top subsidiary award at Microsoft Inspire 2019

Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa(MEA) Multi-Country Cluster(MCC) was declared Top subsidiary Award winner for Small and Multi Countries Subsidiary Category for FY19. Announced at Microsoft Inspire and Microsoft Ready 2019 partner conference in Las Vegas.

Formed a year ago, the MEA MCC includes countries in Africa(minus South Africa and Egypt), Indian Ocean Islands, Levant and Pakistan. I remember when Ibrahim Youssry Microsoft General Manager MEA MCC visited Ghana to talk to Partners. The forum was to introduce the MCC and share Microsoft’s one core vision with partners.

Ibrahim Youssry joined top Microsoft executives including CEO Satya Nadella on stage for the recognition. Watch this in the video below.

I am incredibly honored and proud to announce that Microsoft MEA Multi-Country Cluster (MCC) has been selected as the top Microsoft subsidiary.
This is an amazing recognition of our collective collaboration and commitment to serve our customers in the region which spans across Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, as well as Levant and Pakistan. The award comes as we celebrate one year of the MCC subsidiary, and as I take a moment to reflect on this achievement, I feel utmost pride and appreciation. To all our staff located across the 67 markets of our subsidiary, and for our valued partners, thank you all for making it all possible!

Ibrahim Youssry
Microsoft General Manager MEA MCC

Watch highlights of Microsoft Inspire 2019

A solar powered mobile digital kiosk that empowers women across Rwanda

A solar powered mobile digital kiosk that empowers women across Rwanda

In Rwanda Microsoft is supporting African Renewable Energy Distributor (ARED), a technology for social good company. That provides a one stop shop – mobile digital kiosk – platform offering digital services and connectivity to customers in Rwanda. ARED CEO, Henri Nyakarundi says “our solar kiosk platform revolutionizes the way distribution network is built”.

mobile digital kiosk

A recipient of Microsoft’s affordable Access Initiative grant, ARED recieves support to grow and scale up. Hosting its ecosystem of solutions on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. The company is currently using cloud technology and internet of things to monitor what happens on the ground.

Microsoft’s partnership came in different areas.
We won’t be able to do this business without cloud technology.
Microsoft is helping us also find investors.

Henri Nyakarundi, CEO ARED

ARED recruits and trains women and people with disability to operate these kiosks to generate revenue by earning commissions. These vendors offer services like selling wifi, airtime, electricity prepaid, government services like Irembo and Rwanda Revenue Tax, etc..
The company understands that when low income people start business they don’t have the capital to do business. So they offer the vendors credit to sell these services and payback.

ARED has about 200 solar mobile digital kiosk and plans to have about 300 mobile digital kiosk around Rwanda soon.