GET TO KNOW enterprises demand robust, seamless security that protects their digital environments without adding complexity. Reflecting on cyber threats in Africa over the past two years, their top concerns include ransomware, phishing, hacktivism, DDoS attacks, and securing cloud environments, remote workforces, and hybrid infrastructures.
A significant challenge for many African businesses and organisations is managing multiple security solutions, leading to operational inefficiencies and gaps in protection. As emphasised during Check Point CPX 360 2025, cybersecurity should not be complex, complexity breeds vulnerabilities. To address this, she facilitates engagement sessions with customers and partners through tailored security assessments, surveys, and industry roundtables.
Which generic technologies and innovations can make a difference to your end customers business?
For African enterprises, technology needs to be a business enabler, not just a security checkbox. AI-powered threat detection helps businesses stay ahead of cybercriminals by identifying attacks before they cause damage. Cloud security solutions like SASE ensure remote workers stay protected while accessing company resources. Automated threat prevention reduces the burden on IT teams, allowing businesses to focus on growth instead of constantly reacting to incidents. More importantly, cybersecurity does not have to be complicated, simplification is key.
How can a channel partner in your industry disrupt the regional market and gain a leading competitive position?
The most successful partners will go beyond transactions, focusing on building stronger vendor relationships and staying ahead of evolving needs. 2025 will be the year when partners stop just selling IT and start shaping the digital future. Those who blend local insight with global security and automation trends will not just lead, they will define Africa’ s next phase of digital transformation.
Which non-competitive business in the region do you admire for innovative usage of technology?
Having grown up around tea farms, she has witnessed firsthand how Kenya’ s agricultural sector has embraced technology to drive efficiency and sustainability. The industry has integrated precision farming, drone surveillance for crop monitoring, AI-driven weather forecasting, and mobile-based financial solutions like M-Pesa for farmer transactions.
Tea factories now utilise IoT sensors to optimise processing, while blockchain enhances transparency in coffee and tea exports. Agri tech startups are empowering smallholder farmers with smart irrigation, pest control solutions, and digital marketplaces. The transformation of this centuries-old industry proves that innovation is not just for IT, it is reshaping every sector, including agriculture.
Which aspects of your job role do you find rewarding and which challenging?
Maryanne loves collaborating with sales teams, and partners on incredible projects, knowing that even if our MQLs do not immediately turn into SQLs, we are driving awareness, engagement, and long-term transformational projects, building a network of decision-makers and key industry voices.
Channel partners are the backbone of IT expansion, bringing global technology closer to Africa’ s unique business landscape. With IT spending projected to grow by 8 % in 2025, and partner-led IT expected to account for 70 % of global IT spending, Canalys, 2024, the opportunity for MSPs and cloud-first partners is bigger than ever. But real disruption is not just about selling technology, it is about deep local engagement and understanding customer realities.
We are already seeing telecom giants like Safaricom, Mauritius Telecom, and Orange step further into the MSP space, leveraging their infrastructure, reach, and trust to deliver security, cloud, and AI-driven managed services that directly address regional needs. Maryanne would call it the rise of the Vin VAR, a return to value-added resellers who combine deep local expertise with cutting-edge IT solutions.
And that one glorious moment when a deal finally closes from a campaign, we ran last year? Pure joy. B2B Marketing is truly the long game, one moment you are planting the seeds, and the next, you are watching sales take a quick win from a lead you nurtured for 18 months.
How do you best like to de-stress and re-charge off work?
Nothing helps Maryanne recharge like diving into conspiracy theory books and documentaries. When she needs to still my mind, she runs. Having once completed a 91 km marathon in 12.45 hours, her knees have yet to forgive, she is now focused on breaking a 25m per sec sprint record on the assault treadmill. Beyond that, she finds peace in nature, movement, and meaningful conversations, and in another life, she would be running a dog kennel, surrounded by chaos and tail wags. p
72 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www. intelligentcio. com