Sep 30, 2025
The 3 Values That Turn IT Leaders into Change Makers
Introduction: Real Transformation Starts with Values, Not Technology
At the peak of one of our most ambitious digital transformations — a sweeping cloud migration spanning multiple banks across Africa — I was asked to step in and take command. Deadlines had slipped, complexity had grown, and momentum was fading. We had world-class technology, top-tier architects and engineers, and a solid technical strategy — but still, something deeper was missing.
In that pivotal moment, I was reminded that vision alone isn't enough — belief must be paired with disciplined action to create real change.
So, we paused. Instead of diving further into diagrams and delivery plans, we brought together our leaders and teams to focus on the values that truly drive transformation — values I've seen tested time and again across Africa's financial services sector. It wasn't mastery of the cloud or APIs that restored our direction; it was clarity. It wasn't strict governance that gave people the confidence to speak up early; it was trust. And it wasn't agile rituals that turned things around; it was disciplined execution.
In times of rapid technological change, the real differentiator isn't code or cloud — it's character. And three core values consistently separate those who merely manage IT from those who lead lasting transformation: Clarity, Trust, and Execution. These are the principles that define real leadership. Let me show you why.
Clarity — The Lens That Sharpens Every Decision
Without clarity, even the best strategy falls apart.
Clarity is the leader's ability to turn complexity into focus. It's about leading with transparency, alignment, and structured communication so everyone knows not just what to do, but why it matters.
With clarity, you set and share a clear strategic direction across stakeholders—from technology teams to business leaders—so priorities aren't left to interpretation. You translate complex technology goals into actionable steps, making responsibilities unambiguous and progress measurable.
In a multi-country, multi-subsidiary context, clarity becomes the bridge across differences in culture, regulation, and infrastructure. It aligns diverse teams around a shared roadmap, even when their starting points are shaped by entirely different realities. Eliminating noise and ambiguity accelerates decisions, strengthens collaboration, and builds confidence.
A few years ago, after successfully delivering a core banking API platform across several markets, a bold proposal emerged: unify all API layers—core banking and in-house—under a Center of Excellence for Open Finance. The goal was clear: improve efficiency, strengthen resilience, and enhance the in-house platform, which required significant improvements in reliability.
The vision was translated into a detailed plan: a clear business case, a SWOT analysis, and a governance model that addressed both technical and organizational needs. Stakeholders across the business and technology sides were aligned, and the proposal was close to approval. Then a leadership change shifted priorities, and the initiative was put on hold.
I turned my focus to the priorities at hand—strengthening delivery, stabilizing operations, and ensuring my teams continued to perform. Two years later, when the predicted challenges had become urgent—frustrated banks, slow delivery, rising costs—the same structure was approved, almost unchanged. This time, it was implemented successfully, with stability, scalability, and full business confidence.
That's the power of clarity: a vision so well-defined it can outlast leadership changes, shifting priorities, and market pressures—ready to be acted on when the moment comes.
Trust — The Currency That Lets You Lead at Scale
Without trust, leadership becomes micromanagement.
Trust is the currency of leadership. It's how you scale influence, delegate authority, and sustain momentum over time. You build it by leading with integrity and consistency, treating people with respect no matter their role, culture, or background.
Trust means giving teams ownership, believing in their ability to execute, and backing them when challenges arise. It's earned with executives and partners by delivering on your word, managing risks transparently, and communicating openly. In a multi-country IT leadership role, trust is what allows you to lead through others — the only way to sustain performance across diverse teams and geographies.
In one transformation project, several banks needed an API platform to power their mobile app. The deadlines were tight, the pressure was high, and nothing was ready to go live. Instead of rushing into technical fixes, the first step was to listen — to understand the real blockers, whether they stemmed from technical limits, team structure, or ways of working. A small, empowered team was formed, given clear goals, and trusted to make key delivery decisions without waiting for approvals on every detail.
Six months later, the platform wasn't just delivered — it was stable from day one. Escalations disappeared, and inboxes stayed quiet. That success built credibility and, more importantly, fostered a culture where people felt safe to act, speak up early, and take ownership of outcomes.
That's the power of trust: when people know they have your confidence, they bring their best — and the entire organization moves faster.
Execution — The Discipline That Turns Vision Into Impact
Without execution, vision is just imagination.
Execution is where credibility is won — it turns leadership from theory into impact. It's about turning vision into results by translating strategic objectives into structured programs with measurable KPIs, clear accountability, and disciplined delivery.
Execution thrives on agility — iterating, adapting, and removing blockers fast. It's about owning the outcome from concept to delivery, whether it's modernizing infrastructure, reducing costs, or improving service reliability. And it's about building a culture of follow-through, where teams are empowered to execute with autonomy and purpose.
In one critical project, the challenge was to migrate a fragile technical backbone to the cloud without disrupting services. The stakes were high: repeated outages had eroded trust with business teams, and month-end processing had become a constant source of stress. The program was structured into clear phases, each with defined milestones and ownership. Daily stand-ups tracked progress and addressed blockers immediately, ensuring no issue lingered unresolved.
The migration went live slightly behind schedule — but the gains in stability and trust made those extra months worth it. Month-ends became routine instead of fire drills. The result wasn't just a technical win; it was a shift in culture. Teams saw that delivering on commitments was the norm, not the exception — with zero major incidents since January 2025.
That's the power of execution: it turns plans into reality, builds confidence through results, and creates momentum that carries the organization forward.
The Multiplier Effect of Clarity, Trust, and Execution
Alone, each value is powerful. Together, they're transformational. Clarity without trust becomes control. Trust without execution becomes chaos. Execution without clarity becomes burnout.
When we launched an interoperability program for instant payments and bank-wallet transactions across regions, the technical challenge was only part of the equation. Each region had a single regulator setting requirements for all countries in its scope, but those requirements still varied. Without the right approach, the risk of fragmentation, delays, and misalignment was high.
We began with Clarity — a simple, shared vision: a unified experience operating securely and seamlessly while meeting each regulator's rules. The roadmap broke this vision into phased milestones, responsibilities, and success measures so everyone knew what was expected.
We built Trust through strong governance and continuous communication with regional teams, keeping progress, challenges, and decisions transparent. This ensured local realities were addressed without compromising agreed standards.
Execution kept everything moving — agile delivery, rapid issue resolution, and compliance validation at each phase. Each milestone delivered concrete value — from enabling instant payments and bank—wallet transactions in some regions, to enhancing the reliability of every transaction, and cutting settlement times from days to seconds.
The program didn't just deliver a new product — it created a new way of working. By combining alignment, empowerment, and disciplined delivery, we turned a complex, multi-region initiative into a scalable reality.
Conclusion: Leadership Starts with Values
I didn't inherit these values — I earned them. Through mistakes that taught me humility, mentors who challenged me to grow, and moments that tested every part of my leadership. Over time, I learned that Clarity aligns people, Trust empowers them, and Execution turns vision into reality.
These aren't abstract principles — they are the reason ambitious transformations succeed.
Now I'm curious: What values guide your leadership? Have you tested them under pressure, and have they helped you turn complexity into impact?
Because in the end, great technology doesn't lead transformation — great leaders do.
