Derrick Mwansa

Founded an IT and telecom solution provider offering cloud services, cybersecurity, and telecom network engineering and operations. Provided software development and data analytics capabilities as part of the service portfolio. Built a business centered on managed delivery through partner ecosystems across SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS models.

Provided overall operational oversight for an IT integration and managed services provider. Drove the company’s business vision and new business development, and managed key administrative and logistics responsibilities. Ensured day-to-day operational support aligned with delivery and growth goals.

Led ICT strategy at executive level for an infectious disease research organization. Owned the design and implementation of a digital transformation roadmap across business systems and ICT infrastructure, including digital innovation initiatives. Managed ICT teams, delivered internal and market-facing solutions, oversaw budgets, and directed performance and coaching for staff.

Performed network optimization for a mobile and fixed operator covering multi-vendor RANs, core networks, and transport and transmission segments. Supported performance analysis and optimization activities to improve KPIs and service quality. Scoped and delivered consultant work focused on network and service performance assurance across technologies and vendors.

Set up and led the Zamtel Innovation Hub, managing and coaching an innovation team and establishing innovation governance. Formulated the company’s digital transformation strategy for 2020–2024 and designed the innovation framework, process, and functional approach from ideation to go-to-market. Produced innovation outputs including platform and digital service proposals and introduced practices such as DevOps, MVP-style development, and AI/ML-enabled use cases.

Supported development of a Farmers Link information system for agribusiness operations across Zambia. Contributed to software development contract support, requirements analysis, high-level design, and process flow definition. Coordinated with third-party service providers within the project ecosystem.

Provided technical and administrative leadership for network quality and performance management for end-user services. Owned QoS and service performance management and led initiatives to improve and sustain network KPIs, including performance measurement, analysis, and optimization. Managed compliance reporting to the regulator and supported network expansion and project rollouts to maintain contractual performance targets.

Led network planning and optimization activities with end-to-end responsibility for managed services performance. Managed KPI improvement strategy, performance measurement and reporting, and ensured contractual delivery across multi-vendor 2G and 3G networks. Administered performance management applications and tools roadmap while mentoring team members and supporting acceptance testing with suppliers.

Managed quality of service and performance for an in-country telecom network to meet customer satisfaction and organizational performance targets. Covered performance across access, core, and transport segments using multi-vendor network technologies. Ensured network and service performance oversight across end-user services and operational nodes.

Developed an Agri FinTech platform proposal to support agribusiness financing and transaction needs. Aligned the proposal with digital transformation themes and broader vertical revenue concepts. Worked through product opportunity analysis and solution planning to define the platform direction for potential delivery.

Proposed and guided an initiative to transition a telecom architecture toward an open API platform approach. Defined how services could be exposed via APIs to support internal development and third-party integration. Positioned the organization to expand digital service creation and revenue opportunities through ecosystem enablement.

Created the innovation management framework and innovation process for a telecom innovation hub. Structured how ideation flows into product development, piloting, and go-to-market activities. Enabled consistent execution of innovation functions within the broader digital transformation strategy.

Contributed to the creation and delivery of a digital health management system aimed at public health use cases. Worked within an innovation hub workflow to shape requirements, product scope, and solution direction. Supported the path from concept to market-ready implementation for internal and external value.

Developed and delivered an eLearning solution as part of a digital services portfolio initiative. Defined the product direction and supported go-to-market planning from ideation through rollout. Coordinated innovation processes to transition learning services into a deployable digital offering.