For our sixth episode of Akoni Tech Talks, we sat down with Public Speaker, Founder and CEO of Shiageto Consulting, Faris Aranki. With over 12 years of business strategy and consulting expertise, previously working as a partner in a strategy consulting firm, Faris shares how a gap in the market shaped his decision to utlisise his skillset and personal qualities and set-up his own business, Shiageto Consulting.

A self-confessed people person, Faris tells us about his passion for connecting with people, building relationships and understanding mindsets, which derives from his intent to ‘fit in’ and develop friendships as a child. 

As a former maths teacher, Faris shares his interest in equations and formulas, which helped him to develop his trademarked formula for success, = IQxEQxFQ (Intelligence Quotient x Emotional Quotient x Focus Quotient). Supporting leading businesses, such as Amazon and Heinekin, to emerging start-ups, Faris explains to us that it was elements of his 20-year career journey that helped him shape the concept behind this formula. From beginning his career as a school teacher boosting his student’s excitement for learning, to working for a large utility company focusing in a corporate environment. 

‘Get people engaged and excited around strategy, get them aligned, get teams working better together. And that is effectively the ethos of Shiageto and why I set it up.’ 

During this episode, we also addressed whether the evolution of virtual tech, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meets, has presented a barrier in developing relationships with clients and colleagues. Faris discusses the importance for business who operate a remote working culture to adjust their leadership and management styles, highlighting the vital need, particularly for the younger generation, to invest time developing human skills and soft skills in order to strengthen successful communication, improve social skills and break these potential barriers.  

We also touched on the topic of emerging AI technology, debating the growing impact it has in a modern workplace. In this conversation, Faris discusses that digital platforms and AI tools can be used to facilitate better communication and engagement between leaders and their teams. He goes on to describe the ways that AI transforms our work lives, by automating mundane tasks and offering us an opportunity to gain valuable time to focus on people, which calls for a renewed emphasis on emotional intelligence in leadership and can boost workplace relationships and team performance. 

Tune in to Akoni Tech Talks for the full conversation and more insights from industry leaders – available on Spotify Podcasts,Apple Podcasts and YouTube.