Irma Jooste: Leading the Way in IT Project Management for NEC XON

Irma Jooste, Senior Project Manager at NEC XON

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Meet Irma Jooste, Senior Project Manager for NEC XON’s Agile Networking Delivery Team. But it wasn’t always like that - Irma worked her way up from a junior role. Her wealth of experience in spearheading complex IT installations across remote African regions has been the result of perseverance, a commitment to excellence and a philosophy of trust and respect in her business dealings.

Communication, trust, respect
Effective communication and collaboration are key components of Irma's project management strategy. By fostering trust and respect among team members, clients, subcontractors, and suppliers, Irma ensures seamless project execution and client satisfaction. "Trust and respect are vital," Irma emphasises. "Creating real-time communication channels facilitates collaboration and problem-solving on the fly."

From navigating custom clearance processes to overcoming language barriers and adapting to diverse company cultures, Irma's hands-on approach and dedication to her team have been instrumental to NEC XON’s success. Irma sheds light on the challenges she has encountered while climbing the ranks and managing intricate IT installations in remote African regions, saying, "Part of building that trust and respect has been to take off my heels and get out to the sites with the guys I manage."  

That goes for customers, too. "Understanding and respecting the culture of each country, business, and individual is paramount to success. Things work differently in each country, and it’s vital for me to establish strong relationships with the OEMs who supply us, the customs officials in South Africa and the country we’re exporting equipment to, as well as the procurement teams in our customer organisations. All these stakeholders have to be guided through a complex process to ensure on-time project delivery.”

When executing IT installations in less developed regions, Irma stresses the importance of adaptability and thorough preparation. Understanding the unique challenges of each location and meticulously planning for contingencies are essential for successful project delivery. 

Journey to the top
Irma's commitment to excellence extends beyond project management to community development initiatives. During her tenure overseeing a telecommunications project worth hundreds of millions of Rands north of the South African border, Irma established a training centre that has since trained over 100 local people on some of the world’s leading networking technology. "We decided to open a training centre to help the local community," Irma explained. "Many of the interns were then employed by us, contributing to sustainable development in the region."

Growing from a junior role to a senior team lead in NEC XON's pan-African Agile Networking Delivery Team hasn’t been easy. As a female in a male-dominated environment, Irma has proven herself while respecting her colleagues' expertise. "Initially, gaining respect as a female was extremely difficult," Irma shared. "But by being true to myself, respecting others, and immersing myself in the work, I earned the trust and respect of my team. You have to be willing to change and keep up to speed with technology developments," Irma advises aspiring professionals. "Work should be a happy place for you."