Mr. Joseph Aransiola is the managing director and CEO of Ouranos Technologies, a company that delivers IT infrastructure services and solutions to clients in West Africa and beyond.
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Background of Joseph Aransiola of Ouranos Technologies
My name is Joseph Aransiola and popularly known as JSA. I am an adult and graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1989. I have my career paths splashed in Accounting and Finance, Sales and Management but now an entrepreneur.
Family Influence
My mother has a great influence and the thoughts of her propelled me to excel in all that I do.
Why your Chosen Field?
I entered secondary school with the intention of becoming a pilot and was still undecided on Chemistry which was major. Having had a problem with the teacher, I lost interest and decided to switch into Accounting and instantly fell in love with it. I had a great lecturer who made it real fun. It’s still what I’m most excited about and interested in doing professionally.
See Also: The entrepreneurial story of Florence Chikezie; the lady selling ‘shovels’ to entrepreneurs.
Do you have a mentor?
Yes I do. A mentor simplifies the way. Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” From making certain and simple business decisions to fostering certain relationships, a mentor can and will certainly help guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.
Tell us about Ouranos Technologies
Ouranos Technologies is a systems integrator company in the space of ICT. We actually started operation in 2014. As our name is- OURANOS- just like the precious stone which we are, we are evolving and have not fully harnessed our in-depth industry knowledge and technical expertise. We believe we can always do better
Ouranos is a small, compact and flexible organisation. Our culture reflects our current state and we have developed a structure that is robust and intelligent enough to respond to customers’ needs. We are always desiring to do well and are open and adaptable. We encourage and sustain diversity for strength.
Ouranos Technologies in 5 years and the role you intend to play
Ouranos is in for a long run. We are in a changing world and only the organisation that puts on a thinking cap can sustain the effects of changing and disruptive technology. As the world evolves, we complement and continue to thrive as a business over the next years and beyond, we anticipate, and understand the trends and forces that will shape our business in the future and move swiftly to align and take advantage. We already have good succession plans in place and I expect my partner can stand up any day to steer up the affairs of the company.
Tell us how you have leveraged technology in your business
Right from the outset, we know that technology is a catalyst for minimising cost. With the advances in technology and the evolution of ICT, many organisations are fundamentally shifting their view of ICT as a way to gain market share, launch competitive products and enhance their services. For Ouranos Technologies, we started with share services, virtual offices, etc.
Tell us the challenges you have faced so far in running Ouranos Technologies and how you managed it
The biggest challenge is financing and getting the right mix of it. We actually started few months when the forex market came crashing. We also came to witness recession which made the strategies unrealistic. In order to edge these challenges, we had a shift in mindset and placed higher importance on West African markets
How have you been able to sustain Ouranos Technologies in terms of financing?
Finance and funding are major problems of starting or setting up a business in Nigeria. In Nigeria, funding is a major problem especially if an entrepreneur does not have enough money to kick start the business. We started with our savings to keep the business running. The banks that should help investors are not willing to give startups or new businesses loans and where the funding are available, there is the issue of interest rate or collateral to contend with. We’ve had to submit personal properties for collateral to obtain loans.
Any decisions you took that you wished you had done differently?
Yes, there are several decisions. The first is the composition of the equity owners. It is always good and in fact the journey get better when you are all goals-centric. We also depreciated the project financing at the beginning and having known the impact, we now have a policy to address such. Certainly, no matter how faultless a business plan is, it will always be away from realities.
How do you give back to the society? Any CSR projects?
Our Company is a socially responsible organisation that subscribes to reducing waste and encouraging green society. In our own little way, we offer a workplace and corporate culture of caring about essential social issues and giving back to the wider community. It is certainly too early to begin to count our engagements, but we hope to do more.
Other business interests apart from Ouranos Technologies?
I have shareholding interest in other organisations even though not at a controlling level
Advice for someone starting out a business in your field
Do what you have a passion for. Let the goals not be on quick profit. Face the challenges and never turn back because there is always a trying time. He must pay attention to closure time.
What is your greatest achievement so far?
We have for the past two years been maintaining the network of a major telecom in West Africa. Also, we have successfully implemented a new solution called software define Networks for a telco.
When all is said and done, what is the most memorable thing you have done that you want carved on your tombstone?
I want to be remembered for Godly acts. Nothing last in this world no matter how precious it looks. I want to be remembered for the number of lives transformed and made great.
What advice do you have for budding and aspiring entrepreneurs?
Never underestimate the power of your dreams and the influence of the human spirit within you. Your potential for greatness lives within you. Aspire for greatness. The world will be a little better because of you! So you must go aspire, inspire, and perspire your way to success. You can do it! Remember that “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” And when you FAIL, it is “First Attempts In Learning”.
Tell us what your typical day looks like.
My first contact every day is God. In this way, I avoid the troubles of the day. I also try to look at my phone to read messages and return missed calls. I then listen to paper reviews and commentaries. On the way to the office I brainstorms on the challenges of the day and how best to solve the issues. However, if the job is unpredictable and calls for efficiency, I adjust myself to the level required to get the needed solution.
Tell us how you unwind
I love good food. Sometimes I watch a favourite television show or football. Other times, I go for evangelism and visitation. It all depends on my mood, but I know life is good.
Romantic relationship status
I have been married for more than 24 years and have learnt that the best available for me is She. We have passed through a trying period and we are still students in the school of love. Just like the old wine, the longer it is, the better.
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