The Chief Executive Officer of
Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, has described telecom as the new economy industry,
as the sector transforms business and lifestyle through connectivity.
In his presentation entitled:
“Breaking Barriers: The Art of Living Outside Your Comfort Zone at TEDx PAU, an
independently organized TED event, held on the campus of Lagos Business School,
Pan-Atlantic University, he illustrated his talk with cases from his over 30
years of business and corporate experience from multiple geographies across
Africa and Asia, he discussed his inspiring transition from the FMCG industry
into telecommunications, leading one of Africa’s largest telecoms companies. He
noted that his decision to embrace a new sector after decades of sustained
successes in a different one was a significant step out of his comfort zone,
inspired by the desire to help build the future with digital connectivity.
“From having no connectivity to
being able to call loved ones all over the country and improving economic
inclusion by giving Nigerians a platform to be part of the African and Global
stage, telecom is what I always call ‘The New Economy Industry’. The ability to
touch and transform lives inspired me,” he said.
Mr. Cruz’s highlighted the
importance of taking risks, confronting challenges, and build a reliable
support system towards achieving both professional and personal growth.
“In my three decades at Unilever,
I moved in and out of comfort zones several times: when I made the shift from
field sales to brand marketing in 1997, from brand marketing to Sales in 1999,
and most recently, moving from FMCG to telecoms six months ago. Today, I have
the privilege of not only leading one of Nigeria’s and Africa’s largest
telecommunications companies, Airtel Nigeria; but also having the privilege of
being like a child again on a great learning journey in a new industry,” he
said.
He concluded that living outside
comfort zones requires adaptability. “The boundaries that once defined
industries and our personal lives are constantly shifting and evolving, hence
embracing change, facing your fears, adapting, learning from failures, and
building a support network are all essential components of this art,” he
concluded.
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