Michael Monda, principal ICT officer at ATIDI, shares his 17-year journey in tech leadership. He reflects on the power of AI, the evolving cybersecurity landscape, and why family and community remain at the heart of his mission.
Michael Monda's journey into technology started long before it became a career. “Since I was a kid, I was always interested in technology,” he says. Growing up in the UK in the 1980s, he was surrounded by computers and early video games. “We used to play these computer games which always used to fascinate me. I was even more curious to see how the devices work, maybe open up the computer and get in trouble when it got spoilt. You know, boys being boys,” he says. That early curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for problem-solving and innovation.
Today, Michael is the principal ICT officer at ATIDI, a multilateral pan-African organisation he joined in 2008. “When I joined, we were only about 15 or 16 staff members. Now, we are over 70 and owned by 24 African governments, 12 institutional shareholders and one non-African government, that is India. I’ve seen the organisation grow and I feel like I’ve been part of that journey,” he adds.
His 17-year stint at ATIDI is a clear reflection of finding the right fit. “Funny enough, I moved around a lot at the beginning of my career. One year here, one year there. I was even told once that it didn’t look good on my CV. But now? Seventeen years in one place says everything,” he reflects.
One of the proudest moments in his career was overseeing the implementation of a Tier 1 Oracle Cloud Fusion ERP system. “It’s used by Fortune 500 companies. For me, it was a signal that we’re now in the big leagues,” he says. “Just seeing the organisation grow to the point where it needed a world-class system shows how far we’ve come,” he says.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Michael sees challenges, particularly around AI and cybersecurity, as opportunities for growth. “What do we do with AI? What not to do with it? The ethics of personal data, cybersecurity – it's a lot. We’re trying to see where the industry is moving, and we’re cautious about what data goes into AI systems. Once it’s in there, how do you get it out? How do you protect it?” he poses.
On cybersecurity, he is candid. “Now, even threat actors have their own AI. So we also have to use AI to defend ourselves. AI is fighting AI. It’s a whole different game now,” he says.
Sharing knowledge
Despite the high stakes, he remains optimistic and proactive. “It’s a great time to be in IT in terms of technology. But also a big headache,” he says. “Companies can go under because of cyber breaches. So you always have to be on guard,” he says.
Michael leads a lean but growing IT team at ATIDI’s Nairobi headquarters, supporting offices across the continent. “Right now, we’re a small ICT team and growing. But everything runs through us. Servers, systems, support. Eventually, we’re looking at establishing a hub in West Africa too,” he says.
As for the value of community, he sees CITO East Africa as an essential platform. “Right now, we’re all in the unknown. It helps to bounce ideas off other IT leaders, how they’re handling AI, cybersecurity, best practices. That sharing of knowledge is invaluable,” he says.
Outside work, Michael is a proud family man. “I’m a father to three lovely kids. That’s the greatest job I’ll ever have; being able to shape those souls. It’s the biggest privilege,” he says.
He also enjoys football – mostly watching – and has grown increasingly drawn to spirituality. “Not religion,” he says. “Spirituality. My wife got me into it. As you get older, you start looking at things differently,” he says.
Being in IT also means navigating parenting in a digital world. “Of course, I’ve put limits on what my kids can browse, but I also rely on good old parenting. You can’t block everything, so you talk to them, stay close, stay relevant,” he says.
So what keeps him at ATIDI after all these years? “It’s the people, the diversity, the impact. And the feeling that we’re building something important. For me, it’s always been about passion. If you don’t look forward to going to work, you’re in the wrong career. I love this,” he concludes.
