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Sponsored: Identifying and grooming exceptional talent
Be prepared to grasp opportunities – even if you don’t feel completely ready.
01 August 2026
South Africa has a deep talent pool, and Vodacom has a proven track record of identifying people with exceptional potential and helping them complete their studies and build successful careers.
One such person is Lauren Pentasaib, Vodacom Business’ SME product specialist: Digital transformation and solutioning, who, through Vodacom, has been able to follow an exciting and diverse professional path. Her journey with Vodacom started in matric, when she applied for a bursary. After successfully getting through the selection requirements, Vodacom saw her through her graduate degree and offered her career openings.
“They provided me not just with financial support but recognised my potential and groomed me through some of their multiple programmes and initiatives,” recalls Pentasaib. “I initially joined Vodacom Business in KwaZulu-Natal as an intern solutions architect, which is where I first gained experience in customer engagement, which added soft skills to my technical skills and helped me become more well-rounded. From there, I moved to the Midrand head offices as a graduate and my journey continues as a specialist.”
Pentasaib says that post university, she had technical skills, but Vodacom Business has developed other skills through mentorship, informative programmes and initiatives. “My advice to potential tech or science candidates would be that things have changed and there are now more women doing STEM degrees. Don’t be put off studying in what is still seen as a male-dominated field. Be prepared to grasp opportunities – even if you don’t feel completely ready. Say yes and figure things out! “Equip yourself with education, learn as much as you can and stay curious. Shift your mindset and investigate the bigger, multi-disciplinary picture. This will turn you into a more rounded professional.”
Connecting cultures
Pentasaib’s career has included involvement with Vodafone Youth Connect Leadership Team and she wishes to continue helping young people.
“This programme connects over 20 markets and has over 16 000 young professionals under the age of 35. It has been very rewarding working with the different cultures and countries. The programme is focused on contributing to creating opportunities. It also uses its young talent to develop practical skills and tools and draws from the experiences of senior leaders, providing the platform to share with younger professionals their career challenges and highlights.
“I’ve also had exposure to youth development activities through the United Nations Global Compact SDG Innovation Accelerator. Its initiatives like the UN’s and Vodafone’s youth efforts that reinforce the belief that young professionals have valuable and fresh contributions.”
Pentasaib says that people are now reaching out to her for advice and she would like to use advisory support, both with the youth and in community economic development. She is well positioned to do this in her role – contributing to SME sustainable growth.
“We get to see SMEs doing amazing things and assist them through the application of a wide range of technologies. It feels good to see the real-world impact we have.
“Ultimately, from a career direction perspective, I’d like to grow into a more strategic role, influencing and shaping products and market strategies. I also want to develop people and be in a space to create opportunities for others.
“Just one way I see tangible evidence of diversity and inclusion at Vodacom is its large number of confident, successful and powerful women leaders. These women are there on merit, not just to tick a box. Another tangible indicator of positive change is that we no longer have to say a particular woman is the first to hold a key professional position, but is one of many women,” she concludes.
