Tech entrepreneurs must embrace best practices to succeed, says olowoporoku

Kolawole Olowoporoku is the Chief Executive Officer of AlidTech Consulting. His core focus include building scalable applications using a mix of DevOps practices. With over six years experience across various industries, Olowoporoku, in a chat with The Guardian shares insights working in the tech space:

What inspired you as a Software Engineer?
For me, it’s the thinking that goes into every design decision. The ability to scale software systems, deciding what tools to use, and understanding the consequences of such decisions on the overall architectural design.

Can you share how the past five years has been in the Tech Ecosystem?
The past five years have been a journey of learning a mix of various technologies. Technology evolves at an ever-increasing pace, so I’ve learned to embrace change, love it, and always enjoy the current trends. I try not to hold onto any technology for longer than needed, but while holding onto it, I learn it deeply. Over these years, I’ve transitioned from core networking to system engineering, sysadmin, cloud engineering, DevOps, and software engineering. It’s always good to be a wearer of multiple hats; that’s what I find most fulfilling.

Driving growth for AlidTech Consulting can be challenging, can you share how you were you able to design scalable systems for key local and international tech firms?
At AlidTech, we partner with tech firms both locally and internationally with the goal of building self-service platforms that scale. We guide these startups on various practices such as cost-cutting, designing scalable systems, and using GitOps practices.

Recently, you bagged the title: Kubestronaut. Can you briefly explain what this implies and how you achieved it?
The title of Kubestronaut is given to individuals who demonstrate Kubernetes proficiency by passing all five CNCF certifications. I started writing some of these exams in early 2023 and continued until last month. As of now, I am the first Nigerian to have this title and the 7th overall in Africa. The exams can be challenging depending on your stage of knowledge in Kubernetes.

In your opinion, what are some of the key challenges facing tech startups in Africa?
Often, the greatest challenge has been cost. Africa’s tech ecosystem relies heavily on technologies built internationally. Most businesses have to remit costs in USD, which imposes a significant strain on these businesses to innovate. We’re in a world where the primary way to compete is through technology, so we often see top management getting involved in understanding exactly what they’re paying for. I think it won’t always be like this. Over the next few years, we’ll see more platforms grown locally, charging in local currency, and offering top-notch services at a lower cost.

Thinking of the future, what are your plans for continued growth and success in your current role, and what advice do you have for other emerging leaders in the industry?
My plan is to listen to the trends, follow them but not dive in headfirst without consideration. Old technology is good as long as it keeps working. Change is constant; embrace it, and it will deliver great value. The future of platform building is still in its early days. For emerging leaders, I would advise staying adaptable and always considering the broader impact of technological changes.

In Africa and across the globe, how do you keep abreast of latest trends and developments in the Software Engineering industry?
I stay involved in lots of community groups. Most of the time, it comes from diving deeper into every piece of technology I work on. From this, you can get an idea of what might be the next great thing. It’s hard to explain, but for me, it’s the communities—Twitter, LinkedIn, newsletters, and those I follow and have been looking at for years. We look at what they’re saying and if there’s more to it.

Can you share any insights or lessons learnt from your experience working in the tech industry in Africa?
There’s no one way of achieving something. Try to filter out what is referred to as “best practices”; lots of times, they lead to unnecessary spending and may not be needed depending on your stage in the tech journey. Understand that technology is diverse, and what works for you is truly “your practice.” Guide this and build on it.

Finally, how do you balance the need for rapid growth with the need to maintain a high level of product quality and customer satisfaction? What specific strategies have you found to be effective in achieving this balance?

Customer satisfaction is paramount. By knowing this, my approach is always to dive deeper, even beyond what the customer is saying. Sometimes the greatest value is discovered in what the customer isn’t saying. When you have it deeply ingrained that customer value is the reason you’re in business, you’ll always seek this in every conversation.