Sina Hina-Mvoko, GM for Public Sector at MTN Business.

With a 19-year history in the ICT industry and extensive expertise in the public sector, she has held senior leadership positions with multinational B2B and B2C blue-chip companies in South Africa and Sub-Saharan African countries. She is a social entrepreneur and an advocate of women development, and has received numerous awards and recognition during her career.

“I’ve chosen to work in the public sector, because I see myself not only as an IT executive, but as an ordinary citizen of this country, who want to explore ways to bridge the digital divide, and to enable citizens to access government services easily, via technology,” she says. “Access to data and connectivity enables access to e-services and a consideration by local government to include data as a fifth utility, like electricity, water, etc., has become urgent.”

The public sector is dealing with many challenges at this time, says Hina-Mvoko. “These include bureaucratic inefficiencies, budget constraints, pedestrian economic growth, and political influences leading to the 2024 national elections. The need to adapt to rapidly changing societal needs while balancing transparency and accountability can be demanding.”

MTN, as one of the leading ICT players, has solutions to enable rapid deployments on Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and Security Operations Centre-as-a-Service (SOCaaS), to name a few. “MTN is able to assist government in all spheres to implement technology-driven solutions, fostering transparency, investing in digital infrastructure and prioritising data security to enhance government efficiency. Additionally, connectivity is the vital enabler allowing government to engage citizens through digital platforms, and promote e-governance,” she says.

RT15 – MTN’s unique offering that provides qualifying state employees with voice, data and SMS bundles – continues to be a critical project for MTN in driving and enabling digital transformation in all spheres of government. As an official mobile and connectivity partner to government, MTN is committed to providing public sector departments and state owned entities with the tools to drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and connect more citizens.

Continuous learning

As a woman who holds a leadership position in the IT industry, Hina-Mvoko acknowledges that this sector is still perceived as ‘a man’s world’. The tech sector lags behind the rest of the market when employing women, and according to global statistics, women make up less than 30% of the IT industry. “My advice to other women looking to forge a successful career in IT is to adapt yourself in this space, grow your technical skills, and be authentic. Instead of trying to do it alone, seek experienced mentorship to guide you. The most important quality you need to develop, as a woman in tech, is resiliency.”

Hina-Mvoko encourages women in the IT industry to make it clear that they are ambitious, and want to grow and progress in their career, while also understanding their own capabilities, triggers and inhibitors. “As a continuous scholar, I would advise other women in tech to seek out all available opportunities for coaching and learning. I am always on the lookout for courses to complete, and platforms to join, to help me further my skills. It’s also helpful to follow the profiles of other successful women. And, finally, in order to succeed, you need to be truly passionate about the work you do, and the impact you want to have in the industry.”

For more information on how MTN Business can co-create solutions for your business, contact us on: MTNBusiness.Marketing@mtn.com