Sun City Resort’s IT manager, Kegomoditswe Monegi, knows a thing or two about succeeding in an industry that isn’t always welcoming to young, goal-orientated women.
The 40-year-old believes society expects women to listen. “If you start being vocal, men perceive you as being arrogant and disobedient,” she says. “There is a misperception that women can only be led by men and don’t have what it takes.
Born in the North West Province in Maile, a neighbouring village just 20km from Sun City, this trailblazer is the resort’s first female IT manager, a role she took on in January. She leads a team of 25, with 16 IT support technicians, seven specialists in gaming, communication, conferencing, server and storage and hospitality applications.
“Together we ensure optimal day to day functions relating to data, communication, processing of equipment and all the IT operating systems across the resort. This is a fast-moving industry, everything is a priority when you are dealing with guests and striving to offer the best experience,” Monegi says.
After completing her IT studies at the Tshwane University of Technology, including a degree in information management science, Monegi worked in the banking, mining, oil and telecommunications sectors as well for a government parastatal.
She joined Sun City in 2019 as IT operations manager, her new role as IT manager is to plan, set and monitor departmental goals, establish team workflows, choose technology to invest in, and facilitate collaboration across the organisation. “It is a challenge, but I am loving it. It has made me come out of my comfort zone and realise my potential, knowing I am helping take Sun City to the next level. I have a great team supporting me.”
Monegi is focused on self-growth and is completing the advanced management practice course through Henley Business School. “I am learning about leadership, that being a leader is all about inspiring, influencing, and guiding the team to work together toward a single goal”.
One of five in the 13-strong executive committee since January, she had previous experience standing in for her last boss on occasion. “The position requires you to understand that what happens around the table is business, not personal, and that we are all striving for one common goal – to ensure Sun City is the best holiday resort in South Africa.”
With a 14-year-old daughter, after hours, Kego has a dog named Olie and says that spending time with him is one of her favourite things to do. She loves to travel and often plans trips with her family, but she says solo travelling gives her the bliss she craves.
About The Author: Samantha
Samantha Perry is the owner and founder of SJ Perry PR, a small, independent agency that specialises in providing public relations and media relations services to small to medium-sized businesses. She recently served as the JHB Agency Lead for Irvine Partners, an integrated public relations and marketing agency. She has over 20 years' of experience writing for a range of media - print and online - mainly in the ICT sector including Computing SA (editor), ComputerWeek, and Brainstorm magazine (editor). In her capacity as a PR professional and consultant, she has and does work with a variety of companies including Google (South Africa & Nigeria), Salesforce, CLEVVA, Euphoria Telecom, Paymenow and Tiger Content (UK). She also has a Masters degree in ICT Policy & Regulation. She served on the IAB SA Marketing Council as the PR rep, has worked as an independent telecoms researcher for some of the analyst houses in that field and was regularly called upon to comment on telecoms issues in the press. Nowadays she can be found commenting on women in tech issues in the press and speaking at conferences on the subject and the issues women in the sector face.
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