Belinda Sorinyane readily integrates the open and timeless spirit of Africa with Accenture's global drive to help its clients become high-performance businesses and governments.
She says Accenture's open-door policy actually epitomizes the ease with which local people have always interacted, shared valuable information and supported one another.
Sorinyane is currently part of the materials management team working on a massive SAP implementation for a Botswana-based multinational. It has been an intense learning experience and has made her "a much better listener" than she was before. "I first had to understand their systems and in the process of doing so I've built strong relationships. I see this as an investment in the future," she says.
Born and raised in Botswana, Sorinyane earned a Bachelor of Information Systems from La Trobe University in Australia, where she studied for three years. In her two years at Accenture, Sorinyane has done a stint at Accenture's Johannesburg office as well as a trip to Core Analyst school in the Chicago area. "I worked on a couple of projects in South Africa, which was a great skills-building opportunity. I not only learned much more about SAP, but had to adapt to driving in the hectic Joburg traffic!"
The Chicago training trip gave her the opportunity to make great friends and work contacts. "People are always willing to help and the fact that we are a global company is not just a claim we make loosely—at Accenture it's an everyday reality," she reports with conviction.
Sorinyane also values the willingness of Accenture people to share knowledge, and says observing the management techniques of others has taught her a lot. She is especially in awe of the skills of her manager: "When there is conflict, he can keep a cool head and find a way to compromise. When I'm stressed he says 'Okay I'll get help for you.' He not only knows his systems, but he's a people person too."
A media-savvy, new-generation woman, Sorinyane has a passion for movies. "I've watched everything there is to watch at the rental, the local cinema and on TV. I've always got my iPod, music keeps me sane." At the same time she remains very much part of her extended family. "I grew up with my cousins in the same neighbourhood so we hang out often."
Her horizons and her commitment to helping clients achieve high performance are limitless. "I would like to work internationally, but ultimately I have to make sure my skills contribute to Botswana."