My Brilliant Career Techpreneur firm believer in social responsibility
Thomas Pays is CEO of digital payment platform Ozow
Tell me about the work you do.
I head the digital payment platform Ozow. We give people and businesses the ability to pay for products and services quickly and easily.
Ultimately, this doesn’t just grow the economy, but it also increases financial inclusion by allowing people to transact online, even without debit and credit cards.
What does Ozow do, and who are your typical clients?
Ozow provides an easy, automated way for any consumer or business to pay via electronic funds transfer in less than eight seconds, with no registration or app download needed. Our clients include some of the country’s biggest tech and online e-commerce players, like Vodacom, Takealot, NetFlorist, Travelstart and Zando, but we also provide a payment platform to thousands of small businesses and NGOs.
What is a typical day for you?
I’m fortunate enough to have a different day every day of the year, but my basic routine stays constant. In our high-pressure, stress-filled environment, health and fitness are an important part of my life. I go to gym every day at 5.30am, drop my kids at school and then start working at 7.30am.
Tell me how you became a techpreneur.
I love solving problems and innovation seems to be part of my DNA. Ozow is the fifth tech digital business I’ve started. I founded a gaming agency in 2007, and grew it into the third-largest in the world within a year. Then I established an auction website, which grew to 2.5-million visitors in less than six months before I sold it. This led me to starting what I have always been good at: a digital agency, which ultimately led to the establishment of Ozow (formerly known as i-Pay).
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I always wanted to be a fireman or a policeman. I was a hyperactive child and couldn’t stand still for any length of time. But the career path I have focused on is certainly inspired by the opportunity to help people.
What do you find most meaningful about the work you do?
Our social responsibility is our top priority. As a team, we’re fortunate that we’re in a position to be able to give back. We offer a free payment platform to NGOs and NPOs, and have extended this to SMEs, as we know the journey of an entrepreneur is always challenging financially at the beginning.
My biggest pride and joy is the internship programme we are launching, which will allow underprivileged individuals to benefit and learn about the fintech industry at Ozow for three months.
We will give hundreds of South Africans the opportunity to learn how to code, and then either be placed at Ozow or work for any of our partners.
What is the best career advice you have received, and who gave it to you?
One of my mentors told me: “Don’t tell me a story about your number, rather let the number tell the story.” We often find ourselves justifying everything and finding excuses. This advice gave me a new perspective and changed the way I run my business.