Technext is set to host the second edition of its exclusive event, Technext Convo, on June 8th in Lagos. This follows the inaugural gathering in March 2023, which brought together key stakeholders from the Nigerian tech ecosystem for an evening of networking and knowledge exchange, featuring prominent figures like Abubakar Suleiman of Sterling Bank and Kora’s Dickson Nsofor. The Technext Convo series is designed as a quarterly platform for leaders and innovators to connect, share insights, and discuss industry trends over drinks.

The upcoming second edition is themed “Maximizing for Geometric Growth” and is exclusively sponsored by Zoho, a multinational tech company renowned for providing comprehensive computer software solutions and web-based workplace productivity tools for businesses of all sizes. The by-invitation-only event will feature an interactive fireside chat with two industry titans: Mr. Olu Akanmu, President and CO-CEO of OPAY Nigeria, and Kehinde Ogundare, Zoho’s country manager in Nigeria. Both speakers are expected to share invaluable insights gleaned from years of leading successful businesses and strategically maximizing resources to achieve exponential growth and scale.

Olu Akanmu is a distinguished commercial leader with a remarkably diverse background, having garnered extensive experience in consumer goods, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, and Fintech. His career is marked by a consistent track record of success at senior levels, demonstrating strong adaptive skills across various industries. Notably, he played a crucial role in the phenomenal early growth of MTN-Nigeria, helping it reach over ten million subscribers in its first five years and shaping its successful brand and consumer marketing strategy. He also served as Chief Marketing Officer at Airtel Nigeria, where he was responsible for leading commercial strategy and achieving significant revenue targets. Before his current role at OPAY, he held the Executive Director for Retail Banking position at FCMB for over eight years. Since assuming leadership at OPAY Nigeria, he has overseen its rapid expansion, with the unicorn recently surpassing 30 million app users. Akanmu is highly regarded as a thought leader in Strategy, Marketing, and Management, with his articles and public presentations being widely sought after in the consumer business community.

Kehinde Ogundare, Country Manager for Zoho in Nigeria, is an accomplished customer service professional with significant sales experience within the ITES industry. He is recognized as an adept Customer Relationship Management (CRM) expert, proficient in business development and ensuring high customer satisfaction. Ogundare joined Zoho in 2019 and has been instrumental in leading its Nigerian operations since 2021. He is known for his collaborative approach, working effectively with colleagues and customers to achieve shared goals. His strong analytical and interpersonal skills, coupled with his high adaptability to diverse working environments, have been key to his career progression.

The theme, “Maximizing for Geometric Growth,” resonates deeply in today’s dynamic business landscape. At a time when many Internet companies are recalibrating their strategies to meet evolving customer demands, the focus is on technology-enabled business models that can harness new economic opportunities while delivering robust, traditional economic performance. Jay Abraham succinctly defines geometric growth as the ability for “the same action, the same activity, the same person, the same capital, the same client, everything produces more yield, greater results and performance, then sustain it, the combined effect is geometric growth…The maximum result, minimum effort, minimum expense, minimum time, and minimum risk.” The event aims to provide attendees with strategies to achieve this kind of growth, emphasizing that while profits often measure business success, astute leadership is critical to aligning all factors for projected success, irrespective of external circumstances.

Attendees are encouraged to be a part of this insightful event to gain valuable knowledge from these esteemed industry experts and to network with like-minded professionals, thereby seizing a unique opportunity for learning and connection. Interested individuals can request an invite to the Technext Convo through the provided channels.