Cutting-edge ICT solutions and leadership training

Angola

Msuega Tese, executive director of Integrated Solutions Angola (ISA), talks to The Energy Year about the company’s plans to develop its training offerings, how its clients are reacting to these new offerings and the key IT projects it is involved in. Integrated Solutions Angola provides ICT services and solutions and leadership training.

What are Integrated Solutions Angola’s plans to develop its training offerings?
Training is an essential aspect of our services, and I am very enthusiastic about it. Our services are divided into technical, management and leadership.
Our technical training programmes are well established. We provide a range of certification courses in collaboration with renowned vendors such as VMware, NetApp, Check Point, Veeam and TrueNAS. We offer management training courses such as ISO 9001:2015 Quality Systems Management, Project Management Fundamentals, and ITIL 4 Foundation. Additionally, we have partnered with CompTIA to offer a diverse selection of vendor-neutral training programmes.
Research indicates that a mere 9% of leaders possess the necessary adaptability to lead effectively in various circumstances. Additionally, the numerous leadership training programmes currently available yield unsatisfactory outcomes for corporate organisations. As a result, we have developed our own leadership training programme called “The Versatile Leader.”
This programme offers a comprehensive framework that empowers leaders to confront a wide range of complex challenges confidently. Our methodology incorporates 12 distinct occupational metaphors, such as physician, architect, journalist, and diplomat, to facilitate easy recollection and application of the programme’s principles. This approach builds upon the concept of situational leadership and promotes continuous learning and adaptation with integrity.
The exciting news is that we have also published a book under the same title. You can find “The Versatile Leader: The Confidence to Excel in Every Situation” on Amazon and other retail platforms worldwide. We have certified trainers who specialise in teaching the principles of versatile leadership. Regardless of prior experience, many participants have given this training exceptionally high ratings.

How are your clients reacting to your new training offerings?
Very well, I would say. We have successfully conducted ITIL 4 and The Versatile Leader workshops recently, achieving excellent outcomes. However, the current economic situation has led many organisations to downgrade the importance of training. Nevertheless, at ISA, we do not follow suit. We firmly believe that knowledge is the essence of our company, and it is crucial for us to continuously enhance our skills. We also advocate our clients to adopt the same approach.

What are the key IT projects that Integrated Solutions Angola is involved in?
Migration to the cloud is the dominant trend in the oil and gas industry, potentially diminishing the need for services from local companies such as ISA. However, cybersecurity presents significant opportunities for growth. The National Bank of Angola has issued warnings regarding frequent cyber-attacks on the entire economy. We have been investing in cybersecurity expertise since 2012. This is undoubtedly an area of interest not only for the oil and gas industry but also for the banking and mining sectors.

How important is it to offer state-of-the-art technological solutions?
Technology is constantly evolving, which means we need to keep learning about it to stay up to date. Not so long ago, AI was just a theoretical concept. Today, it has become a transformative force in various industries. As IT professionals, we embrace the exciting opportunities it brings. We remain vigilant in identifying what is relevant in our environment. This constant vigilance is very important to us because we cannot afford to be complacent.

How attractive is Angola for international technology providers?
Angola is a country with unique opportunities and challenges. Patience is key when doing business in Angola, and a long-term strategy is essential. The country’s young and fast-growing population, with a median age of only 16, offers great potential for long-term investors. This younger generation is more adaptable to new and rapidly changing technologies, making them easier to train.
The infrastructure and economic challenges can serve as good opportunities for international technology providers. Many of these challenges can be addressed through technology solutions.

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