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  1. Describe your job: What do you do?

As the CEO of Zikota Consulting, my primary role is to enable organizations to treat data as a strategic asset. This involves helping them make informed decisions that drive success by transforming raw data into actionable insights.

My responsibilities include forming partnerships to leverage our expertise, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and leading agile teams to deliver client projects.

I advocate for the adoption of data products, lead agile projects to ensure timely delivery aligned with business objectives, design and implement enterprise data warehouses, and develop automated interactive reports and dashboards for real-time decision-making.

  1. Tell us about your journey to where you are today?

I was born in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and grew up in a small town called Bizana Mbhongweni village in the Eastern Cape, where the late Winnie Mandela was born.

Entrepreneurship runs in my family; my mother sewed school uniforms, and my father sold music cassettes on farms. This background fuelled my entrepreneurial spirit.

My fascination with technology led me to pursue higher education, becoming the first in my family to attend university. During my studies, I developed a keen interest in data management and analytics, which I pursued professionally for 15 years, specializing in planning and designing enterprise business intelligence, data analytics, data warehousing, and more.

Zikota was founded after realising the growing demand and need for organisations leveraging on data as a strategic asset, emphasizing data-driven decision-making to provide reliable business insights.

This approach not only addresses the corporate demand for data management but aims to respond to the crisis of graduate unemployment in SA

  1. What are the soft and hard skills you require to be effective in your role?

Hard Skills:

– Data Operations Management: Overseeing data lifecycle from collection to analysis.

– Data Quality Management: Ensuring data integrity and accuracy.

– Business Value through Data Analytics: Translating data into actionable business insights.

– Data Governance and Security: Knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practices.

– Technical Expertise: Proficiency in data visualization tools, data architecture, and cloud data migration.

– Analytical Abilities: Strong background in statistical analysis and predictive modelling.

Soft Skills:

– Relationship Building: Fostering trust-based relationships with stakeholders.

– Communication: Articulating complex data concepts clearly.

– Collaboration: Working effectively across departments.

– Critical Thinking: Making informed, strategic decisions.

– Curiosity: Exploring and understanding business nuances.

– Creativity: Innovating solutions to data-related challenges.

  1. Tell us what constitutes a typical working day for you?

My day typically starts at 5:00 AM, checking and responding to emails before going for a run or shower. At the office, I prepare for the team standup session, where we review the previous day’s work, address challenges, and set daily goals. About 60% of my time is dedicated to business development and client engagement, while the remainder involves providing technical support to my team and participating in design sessions. Planning and prioritizing work are essential tools for maintaining productivity.

Mxolisi Makhetha, Zikota Consulting, data, data analytics, big data,

  1. What are the best/least favourite parts of the job?

Best Part:

– Interacting with Business Leaders: Defining their data needs and developing data strategies, which directly influence business success.

Least Favourite Parts:

– Navigating Complex Decisions: Making tough choices that impact the company and its employees.

– Balancing Stakeholder Interests: Aligning diverse and sometimes conflicting interests.

– Managing Work-Life Balance: Ensuring personal well-being while being responsible for the company’s success.

  1. How do you define and measure success? What KPIs do you use to do so?

Defining Success:

Alignment with Business Objectives: Success means that your data initiatives are closely aligned with the overarching goals of Zikota Consulting.

Value Creation: It’s about the tangible value generated from data analytics, such as increased revenue, cost savings, or improved customer satisfaction.

Innovation and Growth: Success includes the ability to leverage data to drive innovation and growth within the company and for your clients

Measuring Success: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  1. Data Quality KPIs:
  • Data Accuracy Rate: Percentage of data entries that are error-free.
  • Data Completeness Rate: Percentage of data fields that are fully populated.
  • Data Consistency Rate: Consistency of data across different datasets and systems.
  1. Data Operations KPIs:
  • Data Processing Time: Time taken to process and analyse data.
  • Data Uptime: Availability of data systems and services.
  • ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) Efficiency: Performance of ETL processes in terms of speed and accuracy.
  1. Business Impact KPIs:
  • Decision-Making Speed: Reduction in time taken to make informed business decisions.
  • Return on Investment (ROI): Financial return from data initiatives compared to the investment made.
  • Revenue Growth: Increase in revenue attributable to data-driven strategies and insights.
  1. 4. Stakeholder Engagement KPIs:
  • Stakeholder Satisfaction Score: Feedback from stakeholders regarding data services.
  • Adoption Rate: Percentage of stakeholders regularly using data tools and insights.
  • User Engagement: Frequency and depth of stakeholder interaction with data reports and dashboards.
  1. Project Management KPIs:
  • Project Completion Rate: Percentage of data projects completed on time and within budget.
  • Agile Velocity: Speed and efficiency of project delivery in agile environments.
  • Milestone Achievement: Achievement of key project milestones and deliverables.
  1. Innovation and Improvement KPIs:
  • Number of Innovations Implemented: Count of new tools, technologies, or processes adopted.
  • Continuous Improvement Metrics: Number and impact of improvements made to data processes.
  1. Data Governance and Security KPIs:
  • Compliance Rate: Adherence to data protection regulations and standards.
  • Security Incident Rate: Number of data breaches or security incidents.
  • Access Control Efficiency: Effectiveness of access control measures in protecting data.
  1. What are your favourite technologies and platforms that you use to make yourself more productive and get more done?

– Cloud Computing Platforms: Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud for robust data management and analytics.

– Project Management Tools: Jira for task organization and team collaboration.

– Data Analytics and Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker Studio for transforming data into insights.

– Collaboration Suites: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for communication and collaboration.

  1. What are some of the greatest highlights in terms of projects that Zikota Consulting has managed, which you can talk to?

A significant highlight is our work with a UK-based client in the rail logistics sector.

They faced challenges in managing a fleet of contracted and in-house wagons and maintaining schedules.

Our solution involved consolidating operational data, visualizing insights with Power BI, automating processes, and improving data quality and lineage.

This project led to efficiency gains, time savings, enhanced decision-making, and overall operational improvements, showcasing our ability to deliver tailored data solutions that drive strategic value.

  1. Data Consolidation and Integration:
    We streamlined various sources of operational data into a unified system, reducing the complexity of data management.
  2. Visualization Insights with Power BI:
    The integrated data was transformed into actionable insights through interactive Power BI dashboards. These dashboards provided real-time visibility into fleet operations, enabling better decision-making.
  3. Automation of Processes:
    By automating data acquisition and processing, we significantly reduced the time required to gather data and eliminated the need for manual intervention. This automation improved efficiency and reliability in fleet management.
  4. Improved Data Quality and Lineage:
    Our solution ensured high data quality and clear data lineage, enhancing the accuracy and traceability of the information used for decision-making.

Impact:

  • Efficiency Gains: The business saw a marked improvement in the efficiency of fleet management operations.
  • Time Savings: The time required to acquire and process data was significantly reduced.
  • Enhanced Decision-Making: With real-time insights and automated processes, the client could make more informed and timely decisions.
  • Operational Improvements: The overall quality and reliability of operational data were enhanced, leading to better fleet management and maintenance planning.
  1. What can you tell us about your future for Zikota Consulting in SA and abroad?

At Zikota Consulting, we are focused on solidifying our position as the leader in enabling organizations through strategic data solutions. Our future is built on several key pillars:

  1. Innovation and Continuous Improvement:
  • Innovation at the Core: We are committed to keeping innovation at the centre of our strategy. This means continuously improving our methodologies and adopting cutting-edge technologies to provide the best solutions to our clients.
  • Research and Development: Investing in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends, develop proprietary tools, and introduce new capabilities in data analytics and management.
  1. Strategic Collaborations:
  • Industry Partnerships: Forming strong collaborations with industry partners, technology providers, and academic institutions to enhance our offerings and bring comprehensive solutions to our clients.
  • Global Alliances: Establishing alliances with international firms to expand our reach and bring global best practices to our clients.
  1. Expanding Footprint:
  • South Africa and Africa: Our initial focus is on increasing our footprint within South Africa and the broader African continent. We aim to address local data challenges and support economic growth through advanced data solutions.
  • International Expansion: Once we have a solid base in Africa, we plan to extend our services globally, targeting markets in Europe, North America, and Asia to offer our expertise on a larger scale.
  1. Driving Innovation through Technology:
  • Advanced Technologies: Continuously integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing to enhance our data management and analytics solutions.
  • Custom Solutions: Developing customized solutions that cater to the specific needs of different industries, ensuring our clients can derive maximum value from their data.
  1. Enhancing Customer Experience:
  • Tailored Solutions: Providing highly tailored data solutions that address the unique challenges and objectives of each client, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Proactive Support: Offering comprehensive and proactive support services to help clients fully leverage their data initiatives and achieve their business goals.
  1. Fostering Local Talent:
  • Graduate Employment: Addressing the graduate unemployment crisis in South Africa by creating job opportunities and offering extensive training and mentorship programs for young professionals.
  • Skill Development: Empowering local communities through skill-building initiatives, helping to develop a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of the evolving data industry.
  1. Sustainability and Ethical Practices:
  • Data for Good: Leveraging data to support sustainability initiatives, helping organizations optimize their operations and reduce their environmental impact.
  • Ethical Data Management: Adhering to the highest standards of ethics and privacy in all our data practices, ensuring trust and integrity in our relationships with clients and the community.
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