If you had told a young Edwin Kamau that one day he would be the managing director of his very own Lusaka-based IT firm, most probably he would have laughed in disbelief. The reason? Never in his wildest dreams did he ever envision starting a business in a foreign country, let alone in Zambia.
But for the last 16 years, he’s been doing exactly that. And for 11 of those 16 years, Edwin has been running Circuit Business Solutions, a software development company that he incorporated back in 2014.
“We do what we call business process re-engineering,” he explained in an interview with Chams Media. “We automate business processes for organisations that are not fully automated. Even those that are automated, we bring them up to date with the current technology.”
His company offers software development solutions based on the portfolios of clients. “We specialize in Microsoft ERP Solutions, the flagship solution for Microsoft, it’s called 365 ERP, and that is what we have been deploying since 2019,” said Edwin.
Edwin’s company also offers integration services, which entail integrating new information into existing technology systems. Additionally, they build mobile applications and offer business intelligence services.
From Employment to Entrepreneurship
Edwin’s world is all about ones and zeros, quite complex for commoners, but not for the business Information Technology graduate with years of experience in ICT projects management and deployments.
“When I arrived in Zambia first, I was the head of IT for a retail chain of supermarkets. I started working there from 2009 up to 2014,” he said. “But then at the end of 2014, I was bored with what I was doing. I had done almost the same thing on a daily basis, even though I was at a managerial level. And so, I decided to venture out.”
Consequently, he decided to immerse himself into the world of entrepreneurship, niching in the private sector. That is how Circuit Business solutions was born.
Currently, the company serves an impressive list of corporate and quasi-government clientele. “Our typical clients are broad-based. We have clients in the mining industry, the safety and transport industry, financial services, as well as retail services,” said Edwin.
A Dynamic, International Team
According to Edwin, one of the secrets to his success is his team. His company has a mixture of local and international clients. And while on the topic of local manpower, Edwin said that Circuit makes a point of hiring fresh graduates and train them in areas of specialization to support clients after deployment.
He still gives opportunities to experts from various parts of the globe. This is done through sourcing from platforms like LinkedIn and Upwork. “The kind of work we do, sometimes it will be very hard for you to get a full-fledged specialist in the areas of development,” explained the Kiambu native. “Consequently, we often source experts from places like Nairobi and India. So, we might be sitting here, but we have more than 15 consultants working online on the same system with our local team.”
Leading the Kenyan Community in Lusaka
It is this passion to remain connected to his country of origin that saw him actively connect with other Kenyans based in Lusaka. “We have a Kenyan community here called Kwetu Welfare, it’s very vibrant. Most of them are professionals. They have appointed me as their chairman,” said Edwin.
One of the things that Kwetu Welfare does is to serve as a liaison between the Kenya High Commission and the Kenyans in Zambia community. According to Edwin, there are over 3,000 Kenyans in Zambia, 500 of whom are members of Kwetu Welfare.
The accomplished business and family man is clearly living the dream with all the success he’s experienced abroad, but he does admit it requires dedication. “My family is here, by the way. I have married a Zambian woman. I have my children, they’re all here, they go to school here. So first, I’m a parent before I’m an entrepreneur. It’s a job I enjoy doing.
The political turmoil in the country demands that parents drop their children off at school in the morning and pick them up in the evening. “It’s a bit challenging because I often have to juggle between my office meetings and school,” said Edwin.
He, however, still believes that the move was worth it.
“The opportunities are there,” he explained. “For me, when you have an idea and you want to grow it, if you have the passion, you can always take it out there. Market your solutions, and as long as you’re providing the top-notch services that clients are looking for, there is always going to be a customer waiting for you.”
His advice for young people willing to venture out of the country is to take their shot. “With effort and determination, I’m sure you will always make it.”