FUNSHO AROGUNDADE
On Wednesday, 11 October, President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of Ms. Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen as the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, NIGCOCOMSAT.
She is to take over the reign from Tukur Mohammed Lawal Funtua.
With more than 17 years of experience in the tech sector, Nkechi has a strong background in sales and sales team management within multinational organizations such as Ericsson, Nokia-Siemens, and Meta.
Her career has taken her across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where she has successfully collaborated with businesses aiming to achieve commercial success.
Throughout her professional journey, Nkechi has occupied several senior and executive-level roles, granting her the opportunity to exert a substantial influence on the technology industry, with a notable focus on the Middle East and African markets.
She attended the University of Nigeria where she studied Electronics Engineering.
Thereafter she proceeded to the University of Warwick in the UK for an MBA and attended certifications at Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, and Colombia Business School.
Her knowledge of technology, ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, and skill to manage teams and create strategies to support growth and drive business are keys to her success.
She started her career as an Engineer at Spar Aerospace Limited as a secretary in Women in Engineering and AGIC Investment Club.
She later has an extensive stint at Ericcson, Avanti Communications Group, Meta, Hustle Fund, Doorway Africa, Oris, and Treepz.
Nkechi’s extensive work experience covers a wide spectrum of areas, including strategy, sales, marketing, product development, brand management, new business development, relationship management, operations, and project management.
She describes herself as a high-energy, dynamic leader marked by a consistent ability to establish clear visions, formulate comprehensive strategies, assemble award-winning sales and marketing teams, and drive excellence in execution throughout her career.
In addition to her successful tenure as a senior executive in Fortune 500 technology companies, Nkechi also serves as an angel investor, strategic advisor, and spokesperson.
Being one of the few females heading key business areas in the tech industry has exposed Nkechi to numerous professional and personal challenges peculiar to women.
Spurred by discussions with fellow female executives around the globe, she organised a forum at Ericsson in which emerging and experienced female leaders could support each other in developing their careers.
The overwhelming success of the forum led her to found Women and Career, to reach women beyond her organisation and to support girls seeking careers after school.
In March 2020, she published a book, Be Fearless: Permit Yourself to Be You, an Amazon Bestseller.
Nkechi drew from her more than 15 years of experience as a telecommunication executive in Africa, to help women build lasting careers, especially in the male-dominated STEM industries.
Through her book and various initiatives, she has inspired and empowered women to excel in male-dominated STEM fields, making a significant impact on the industry.
The book hit seven Amazon bestseller lists on March 17, 2020, climbing all the way to number one in the Business Ethics and Knowledge Capital categories.
Although she travels extensively, Nkechi —born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria– continues to make her home in Nigeria.
Her appointment has excited many Nigerians who are already looking forward to her excellent performance as they see hers as a round peg in a round hole kinda appointment.
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