Jyoti Murkhejee is the CEO, Software Technologies Limited (STL). Jyoti saw a big potential in the industry after observing how people had started using computers like typewriters. She proceeded for a master’s degree in the United States of America in 1989 and did all the research on the five major databases in the world; to arm herself with the knowledge she needed and founded STL in 1991 when she came back to Kenya. She didn’t have a lot of investments. The person who had promised to finance her project with 1.5 million took back the offer at the last moment due to personal problems, after she had made several arrangements of hiring people and ordering machines.
With tears in her eyes and nothing in her hands, Jyoti boarded a plane to Dubai. She went to the shop where she had made the computer order, looked into the owner’s eyes and said, “I want credit.” He asked, “How much?” she replied, “I want 15 computers.” he looked back into her eyes, paused for a moment, picked up the phone and told the production manager to give the lady 15 computers- she would pay in six months. “I don’t know what he saw in me”, she reflects “but if I had not taken that first step and stayed at home because I didn’t have 1.5m, Software Technologies would probably not exist.”
Software Technologies deals with software development and at the time there were hardly any local companies developing computer software and most of what was in the market was imported. She took it as a challenge and with her team designed a suite of products called e-Horizon which has been maintained since then from the first version to the current fifth version in addition to other products. Most of these roducts are geared towards helping small and medium sized enterprises in managing their businesses. Currently STL has more than 150 corporations as its clients and their products are used in most of Africa including Sudan, Tanzanian, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and India. She also founded the Institute of Software Technologies (IST), an ICT training institute that provides education for business analysts, software developers and IT professionals.
Jyoti had been a board member of the Center for Corporate Governance and would like the company to specialize in people governance software technology. Although they have a product for the counties, it has not yet succeeded. She is hoping the project will pick up. She laments though, as a local pioneer in software development it is sometimes difficult to get big tenders from government and local institutions even though they do have the capacity to deliver. Most times they are overlooked in preference to foreign international companies. She does not subscribe to the culture of taking orders or deals under the table and prefers a straight forward open approach. Her contribution and experience in the world of IT has won her a number of awards and she has been a keynote speaker in several high level business forums.
Jyoti is married to “a gem of a man” as she describes her husband, from whom she draws immense support, 35 years of marriage and they are still in love. They have two children and two grandchildren; son Chets who helps her manage the company and is married to nutritionist and writer Sona Muhkerjee and daughter Nivi who has also chartered her own path in the world of technology with her product eLimu- an innovation to help learners in primary school. She is one of the young entrepreneurs featured during the Global Entrepreneurs Summit (GES). Jyoti’s motto in life is to contribute to family, customers, to the country and the world in general -giving and not taking from society. She says, “Whatever skills you have, whatever you can do, you should always give more to the world than what you take away.”
As a woman, she believes all human beings are equal and women shouldn’t have to fight with men. She says, “Women sometimes shy away because they put labels around themselves. Because they are women they feel they can’t do certain things and this limits them. The word woman includes a man in it, and female includes a male in it. So every woman has a man inside her and every man has a woman inside of him. Men hide that part of them, they feel shy to cry and say I love you just as we are socialized as women to behave in a certain way”.
She encourages women to take off the limitations and know that, because they are different then they should work harder. If your mind says you can do it, do it. She says, “Look at the standards around you, from mother Teresa, Wangari Maathai, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher and so many others. The brain has no gender; all these people have in them what you as a human being can be, so remove the labels and doubts and you can become whatever it is you want to be. Men also fear, but fear is supposed to motivate you and not take you down- come out and shine above it. The universal forces are always there to support you; when you put one step forward, the universe puts ninety nine steps forward, God will always find a way for you.”
She believes as long as you deliver the right training, goods and services and are thoroughly professional, then, the fact that you are a woman becomes irrelevant. Women have to put this in perspective and find a balance when dealing with their issues. Having babies and other challenges in private life should not be a hindrance in business life or vice versa. She advises women to make proper arrangements, take time out to enjoy their babies and at the same time deliver on the promises. And on the family side, husbands and children should not feel that they are secondary to your business. They should be informed when you are not available and proactively involved. When that happens, they are willing to offer their support and even help out where they can.
Most people would consider her highly successful and having reached the pinnacle of her career, but this phenomenal woman still feels there is plenty more to offer. Her dream is to see her company grow to an international level. Plans are underway to make it a public limited company. She would also like to expand the ICT College and make it a full university offering high end technology courses.
Jyoti impresses on everyone in business to learn to master the art of living and work. According to her, being 100% in the moment is what it takes. When in the office, at that point in time you’re a manager, entrepreneur or whatever it is that you do. When with your husband, you’re a wife, with your children or grandchildren you’re a mother or grandma. Learn to juggle and successfully switch roles and act only that role you’re in, in that particular moment. This, she says, is a crucial factor in finding balance and meeting the needs of both family and business. It also allows you space to become the person you are meant to be, reach your fullest potential and achieve your dreams.
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