While Atang Motshabi has an open and positive attitude about what the future has in store, right now she is exactly where she wants to be.
As an analyst on the Accenture SAP Finance team in Botswana, she has all the learning opportunities and challenges that she has ever dreamt of. Her work at Accenture, in the Systems Implementation & Technology growth platform, allows her to help organizations in Botswana become high-performance businesses and government agencies. At the same time Motshabi is able to use her knowledge to further Accenture's goal of imbuing local people with marketable skills.
Currently she is serving as the Accounts Receivables Stream Lead for an Accenture SAP project. As part of the Integrated Business Support Services program, Motshabi is proud to be part of the contribution that Accenture is making to improve business efficiency in her home country.
Part of the project is the construction of a shared services centre in the country capital, Gaborone. Motshabi is enthusiastic about her involvement in designing the processes, technology and procedures for the centre. "The shared services centre will help cut costs, streamline processes and centralise back office functions like HR and Finance. This means, for the individual, the emphasis will shift from volume towards standards and quality," she says.
Motshabi likes the idea that Accenture is helping her fellow citizens get the chance to gain technology skills that are in demand everywhere. "People will be more marketable having been exposed to SAP," she states.
Having started her career in a straightforward marketing position and with a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in marketing behind her, Motshabi was pleasantly surprised at how Accenture was able to help her make the switch to technology, in particular SAP. "I never thought I'd end up in this role," she says, "but I see the benefits of SAP for companies: they are immediate and they go well into the future."
Motshabi wants to go on working in SAP, especially SAP Financials, an area where she plans to deepen her skills. "I want to perfect my skills so that they are transferable to others within Accenture and Botswana."
While studying for her degree at the University of Botswana, Motshabi was very active in youth development, serving ultimately as vice president of an international student exchange program. She remains involved in the program, which places students in development-related posts or non-government organisations in countries all over the world. Motshabi enjoys interacting with and hosting students from other countries. She feels that being physically in Botswana gives people a chance to "understand our culture and the challenges we face as a nation."
Speaking of the challenges facing Botswana, she says, "While a lot has been done, there is still a long way to go in combating HIV and AIDS." The other perennial challenge is unemployment. Motshabi is appreciative of the role that Accenture is playing, both in terms of creating employment and injecting skills into the local economy. "Accenture is relatively new in Botswana, but it is doing work on a great scale. On the grassroots level, Accenture has just taken on 10 interns who have been placed in different positions within the company," she says.
Motshabi experiences Accenture as a "transparent and flexible" working environment. "People are free to be themselves as long as they are diligent and respectful of their work." All in all Motshabi is optimistic and looks forward to future possibilities that a global company like Accenture can offer, especially in other African countries: "I'm young, I have a lot of energy and, for me, the sky is my launch pad.