“Reputation is everything. Manage your reputation at all costs. Keep pressing on and ensure you are passionate about your business endeavour. Please note that failure is part of life. The challenge is to think positively about it, look for the learning, wake up and keep going.” So says Micheal Macharia, one of Africa’s best entrepreneurs and technology experts.
Micheal is a qualified Chartered Accountant and the CEO of a fast growing IT company; Seven Seas Technologies Group, which he founded in 2000 at the age of 25. He is passionate about transforming Africa through his grand initiative.
Seven Seas Technologies is a leading provider of integrated business and technology solutions across Africa in the financial, telecom, real estate and service industries, as well as government, in partnership with Global Technology Industry leaders and collaborative synergies with Domain & Technology centric ecosystem Partners.
Under Micheal’s leadership, SST Group continues to spread across the continent, it has gained recognition in, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana & Nigeria; With additional Joint Ventures & Investments in tech companies in Portugal. The Company’s customer portfolio includes industry leaders in Telecoms, Banking and Government Institutions.
SST Group currently boasts of a workforce of over 130 permanent, highly skilled, multi-cultural employees. the entrepreneur’s vision and passion have attracted prominent Venture Capital partners. The company has grown tremendously over the last 14 years, yet Micheal continues to carry out his long outlined plans to transform the company to a Pan-African systems integrator giant, besides mulling various options of unlocking shareholder value.
Through his organization, Michael has been able to give back to the community through the sponsorship of the Knowledge for Life Initiative which is a program focused on enabling students understand and get career direction. This initiative then moves to assist the students later to secure jobs and start entrepreneurial careers. K4life mobilizes the SST staff to mentor young students who may not have a supportive environment or family. Today K4Life has grown into a Foundation, which is set on discovering and harnessing talents.
The young change maker started off at the Strathmore school, for his O levels, he then proceeded to Strathmore College for his CPA-K, Accounting CPA & IDPM from 1994 – 1996. In 1997 he thought to pursue a degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at the Everton University but eventually quit when he discovered he was on the wrong path and then went on to Strathmore- IESE Business School, University of Navarra Barcelona Spain, where he got a higher degree in Accounting.
He tells his story; “The University degree programme was not cutting for me and I decided to quit since i did not see any relevance in the course I was pursuing,I believe it was one the best decisions in my life.I pursued certification in Accounting ending up as a chartered accountant .”
Recently, Micheal was named as a Young Global Leader 2014; he was also recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Kenyans transforming the country in business.
The talented entrepreneur is a board member at Bring Consulting; an international Information Technology and Services industry that provides business consulting and information technology services in Financial Services, Telco, Energy and Industry and KITOS (Kenya’s IT and Outsourcing Services body).
KITOS acts as the catalyst for the growth of the IT & Outsourcing Services Industry in Kenya by facilitating trade and business, encouraging and advancing research and innovation, propagating education and employment, thereby contributing to the growth of the Kenyan economy.
Did I mention that Michael is also an art & architecture enthusiast, and has medium‐term plans of building an African venture capital that will be involved in technology start-up companies that will in turn redefine the African technology market through convergence of relevant technology and society? he also serves as the Founding Curator for the Kenya Chapter of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Global Shapers Community.
He is happily married to Consolata Macharia and they have a baby son Leo, he is also an avid golfer.
Micheal is living his dream. Are you? Think, learn and do better. Konnect Africa is ready to share your story.
