Final say

Though I have written about women and their rise to prominence, it had never really hit home how far South African women had come. Yes, I admit, every magazine or newspaper you open will invariably have an article on how women, especially black women, have risen to become a force to be reckoned with, but the transition never fails to amaze me.

Speaking to one of the ICT industry`s most well-known executives, I was surprised to hear him grudgingly admit that it took a while for him to adjust to having women in the boardroom.

"I am not saying that we were completely foreign to the concept of women in the boardroom, and make no mistake, we are very serious businessmen, but I tell you there is nothing more unsettling when you are negotiating a huge deal and you look across the table and there is this beautiful creature staring back at you. Men will always be men after all."

He says that the business world has now settled and the presence of women in the boardroom is respected, encouraged and applauded. "Women generally have a way of reminding you of their worth when you least expect it, like the other day we were discussing how to close a deal with a particularly difficult client, and one board member said, `Act disinterested, men lose interest when you are too eager.` A week of difficult silence later, the client phoned us and we got the deal."

The Last Byte

TORQUE-IT has promised to celebrate its 10th birthday with a bang. Aside from spoiling its guests at a function planned for early next month, the company is said to be making some announcements that are guaranteed to set it apart from the rest.

IT LOOKS LIKE TELKOM`S monopoly in the telecoms sector is on its last legs with the SNO shareholders having signed their agreement and the operation expected to commence by mid next year. In addition, a new head for Telkom has been announced, with the new CEO, Leapeetswe "Papi" Molotsane having his work cut out for him.

WHY IS IT that certain PRs and those who move on from the agency`s fold are always so terribly disappointed where I`m concerned? Maybe I should take it as a good sign, I`ve come to realise, since it usually means I`ve done my job as a hard-nosed reporter. Perhaps it`s a strategy. Perhaps most journos back down when they pull that. But really guys, my mother has been disappointed in me ever since I left crèche. I am used to it. And if you tell me where I`ve really gone off the rails and got carried away, I`ll listen. Promise.

IT HELPS to have family working for the big boys. We hear there was some celebration at Clickatell when it was announced that Vodacom bought a controlling stake in it. In some circles this is called forward integration, but not when channel models have become as hybrid as they have in the mobile space.

TRANSTEL is doing a VOIP deal with an international firm. We know the shareholder`s agreement has been signed and that Karl Socikwa expects the time to "switch-on" to be some six to nine months away, but we didn`t realise things were happening quite so quickly. Take a bow, guys, take a bow!