I often read about entrepreneurs that are successful in other parts of the world. It is always interesting to learn about the challenges they face in their country and contrast what I learn from them with my own challenges here in the states. I did a story last year on Mugure Mugo, founder of Preciss Data a global outsourcing company based in Nairobi, Kenya. Mugure is one of many entrepreneurs building successful businesses in this part of the world.

Kenya has an emerging technology infrustructure that is requiring more and more companies that offer technical services in the region. I had the pleasure of meeting another one of these entreprenuers as a result of telling Mugure Mugo’s story.

Joseph Waruingi founded an IT management consultancy practice in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 after working for 6 years with a major American consulting company. The more information he sent me about his business, the more intrigued I became with everything he has accomplished with his business. Advantech Consulting Ltd.client list includes major companies such as Coca Cola East Africa, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Siemens Enterprise Communication. What Waruingi has been able to achieve with this business in merely six years is interesting and hopefully will inspire someone else to build a business.

I had a chance to interview him and ask him the Liberate 10™. Here is what he had to say about his entrepreneurial experience…

LM: What drives you?

JW: The desire to build a business that will provide strategic value added advise to businesses in private and public sector across Sub Saharan Africa. The challenge of building a business that operates across cultures is the ultimate to ensuring African based business rise to offer solutions to Africa’s problems. In the process offer quality jobs to African professionals

LM: What experiences influenced your decision to start a business?

JW: Having worked for six years in PricewaterhouseCoopers in Nairobi and being responsible for technology consulting work for 10 African countries afforded me the opportunity to meet African decision makers who were captains of Industry gav me the impetus to go out and build a business that will serve their needs.

LM: What formal education and/or training do you have or had to get to start your business?

JW: I hold an MBA in Strategic Management and Finance and have received World Class professional training in Europe, US and Canada to equip myself with the skills necessary to build a Pan African business

LM:. How did you get started?

JW: I left my employer in March 2002. My employer became my first client so I eased myself into business ownership.

LM: How did you determine what product and or service to sell?

JW: I started a business along the lines of the work I was doing at PwC. Though I have since expanded the scope to other areas that clients need support in. By working with clients to develop IT strategies and working with them to implement, we derive the satisfaction of helping clients actualise their vision of applying cost effective IT solutions to their businesses.

LM: What lessons have you learned from your first years in business?

JW: That is pays to listen to the clients and fully respond if not exceed their expectations. The most effective medium of advertising is a happy client, since referral or repeat business is the least expensive to acquire.

LM: Who were the primary influences in your life as it relates to being an entrepreneur?

JW:I have read success stories of American entrepreneurs and investors like Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffet among others.

LM: What has been your biggest success?

JW: The biggest success has been landing contracts in other countries such as Ethiopia, Zambia and Uganda purely on account of quality of our proposals

LM: What has been your biggest disappointment?

JW: Loosing business opportunities due to corruption

LM: What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?

JW: To always keep their eye on the ball. Be relentless at doing what one is good at and they will eventually prevail. They must believe in themselves and their ability to do quality work and convince clients