Net prophecies with Saratoga

Since 2009, Net Prophet has brought together South Africa's innovative, successful, creative, ambitious thinkers and entrepreneurs in the Internet space. For a company like Saratoga, which prides itself on hiring the sharpest minds, becoming a sponsor of Net Prophet was a natural choice.

Net Prophet offers free attendance to this event, and it is the investment by sponsors that covers the costs of running the conference. All additional proceeds go to the NetProphetBursary.

Aside from this great opportunity to hear from local innovators, there is also something equally as important that sets Net Prophet aside from other conferences - it is an event geared towards social responsibility and investing in young innovators who don't have the finances to make their dreams come true.

The government's Human Resource Development Strategy 2010 to 2030 has indicated the need for more engineers in South Africa. According to Black Business Quarterly: “There are fewer skilled professionals, particularly black people, graduating from the universities. Studies in the accounting profession show that, between 1999 and 2009, the total number of university enrolments was 504 068, of which only 60 114 (11.9%) were awarded degrees.” (Mathematical talent in short supply, 20 January 2012)

In terms of finding suitable candidates for development positions, Wanda Olszewski (Director, TaudataConsultants) believes that “it is without a doubt a candidate-driven market at the moment for developers. There are currently many more vacancies for developers than there are for qualified and experienced developers in South Africa. All recent research indicates that this is set to continue for some time. Good developers are able to pick and choose with regards to employers.”

In the current climate, where good candidates are hard to find, it's unsurprising to note that women in the IT industry are rare, and especially women in higher level positions.

One of the first recipients of a Net Prophet Bursary was Lindsay Lawrence, who is now a graduate of UCT with a BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics and currently works as a junior engineer at a local brand management company.

Saratoga's recruitment strategy actively supports the promotion of women in IT. It recently sponsored a 'Women in Engineering' Day at Stellenbosch University. The aim of the initiative was to dispel the myth that engineering is 'For Men Only' and to promote engineering as a viable career option. More than 200 Grade 11 girls from over 30 local schools attended the event.

In order for South Africa to become globally competitive in technology innovation, it is imperative that companies invest in young talent. Talented people who are passionate about what they do, and who have the drive to excel in their field, are what fuels the success of any business. For companies like Saratoga, whose edge is a result of innovation through technology, it is becoming increasingly clear that investment in new talent needs to be a priority.

This year, Saratoga and Net Prophet have joined forces to offer delegates an opportunity to bid on a New Apple iPad. Auction proceeds go to the NetProphetBursary.

Saratoga is proud to be a sponsor of Net Prophet and to support local future innovators. Follow @ NetProphetLive and @ SaratogaSA for details on how to pledge your support.

Author
Sarah Meder
Saratoga Staff Writer