Zambian gets Microsoft Corporation’s top-notch award
By MARTIN MUSUNKA MICROSOFT Corporation’s Zambia country representative, Steve Mweembe Hamakando has emerged as the Platinum Club Top Attainment Award Winner for 2018 - the global technology company’s highest award for outstanding achievement.
Mr Hamakando, the first Zambian to be recruited incountry as a full-time employee by Microsoft has worked as the senior service delivery manager for West, East and Central Africa for more than five years received the global prestigious award in Las Vegas, America on Thursday evening.
According to a statement issued soon after the event, Microsoft recognised Mr Hamakando’s contributions to Microsoft’s success in achieving its key company objectives of demonstrating passion, determination, and a drive for excellence at the highest level. was presented to Mr Hamakando by Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Anadela and executive vice-president and president Jean-Philippe Courtois.
The statement states that, working under Microsoft Services (Premier Support), Mr Hamakando helps organisations proactively address risks, minimise downtime, and streamline the operations to improve efficiency and accelerate business growth by providing customisable solutions complete with enhancements and add-on services.
Mr Hamakando acts as a business advisor to Microsoft’s Premier Support customers, providing Premier Services aligned to the customer’s priorities to maximise the business value of their Microsoft investment.
“He creates a strategic relationship with key stakeholders within Microsoft customer organisations, including the IT Directors, Chief Technical Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Line of Business leaders as well as technology professionals.
He demonstrates a deep understanding of the market forces affecting customers and offers insight into new ways Microsoft can provide greater value in helping customers meet their business goals,” Microsoft explains in the statement.
Mr Hamakando is a Certified Change Management Practitioner who articulates the case for change and helps customers Evolve their IT Maturity, drive productive use of Microsoft products, and enable IT to make the business better.
“Only the outstanding employees who exceed their performance goals across the entire company receive this award each year, which recognises the company’s strongest contributors and top performers.
The Platinum Club Award is the highest level of recognition in Microsoft’s Rewards and Recognition programme. Winners of the Platinum Club are influential leaders that have surpassed expected achievements and have gone above and beyond,” according to the statement.
This club represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to recognizing its finest and reflects the value Microsoft places on its Top performers
Before joining Microsoft, Mr Hamakando worked in various positions in the telecommunications industry for five years, which include head of IT development and business intelligence and head of business systems support at Zamtel, operations manager and assistant chief executive officer for Bringcom Corporation.
He also worked as the computer science Lecturer at Mulungushi University. Prior to the Telecommunications experience, Mr Hamakando worked in the IT industry for six years as an analyst programmer, technical support manager and assistant director - technical.