Ahmed Motala

Ahmed Motala, Managing Director of Enterprise Mobility Solutions Africa (EMSA), has never measured success solely by financial returns. For him, success is reflected in the growth of clients, the strength of relationships and the positive impact created in communities.

A proud Durbanite, Ahmed has built a career spanning finance, technology, corporate social investment and tourism. “My purpose is to add value,” he says. “We’re not just here for short-term profit; we believe in creating lasting value.”

Today, EMSA serves clients across the healthcare, retail, fast-moving consumer goods, education and corporate sectors, providing connectivity, cybersecurity, cloud services and technology solutions. Yet Ahmed believes the company’s greatest differentiator is the relationships behind it.

“Connectivity can be purchased online or from anyone,” he explains. “But we believe in building strong relationships with our clients. We’ve become trusted advisors to many of the businesses we serve.”

TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR

Ahmed’s professional journey began in Durban, where he completed his schooling before studying at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. While pursuing his studies, he supplemented his income through temporary positions in the retail sector, gaining valuable business experience. After graduating, he completed his articles with auditing firm Desai Jadwat Incorporated, spending seven years building a foundation in finance, accounting and business management.

His early career was spent in manufacturing, where he rose through the ranks at Astrapak. “I spent over 20 years there,” he recalls. “When I left, I was the financial director.” Leaving a successful corporate career to venture into business was a significant leap of faith. “When I left Astrapak, I had no idea what I was going to do.”

The transition began through consulting work and corporate social investment projects for organisations including Sun International and the Willowton Group. One project opened a door that would reshape his future.

“One such project was with Vodacom, and that’s how my introduction to Vodacom happened,” says Ahmed. That relationship ultimately evolved into a successful technology business that today competes with some of South Africa’s largest industry players. “We’ve won four national awards with a team of just three people, competing against some real heavyweights across the country,” he explained.

BUILDING TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS

Ahmed’s business philosophy centres on becoming more than a service provider. He believes clients need partners who understand their businesses and remain present when challenges arise. “When things go wrong, we’re always first on the scene. We’re there for our clients when they need us.”

This hands-on approach has allowed EMSA to share in the growth journeys of numerous clients. One retail customer expanded from approximately 30 stores to almost 100 outlets during their partnership, while a vehicle rental client grew from only a handful of sites to more than 20 locations nationally and became part of an international group.

“We’ve been part of that phenomenal growth,” he says. “We’re very proud to have shared in the success of our clients.”

Ahmed credits much of his success to the guidance of distinguished mentors who taught him the importance of integrity, service excellence and treating every client with equal respect. “No matter how big or small the client is, you give them the same service,” he says. “When you treat your clients with integrity, you’ll be a success.”

These lessons became particularly important when EMSA entered the highly competitive technology sector. “One of the challenges we had getting ourselves off the ground was that we had no previous track record,” he explains. “We had to work extra hard, extra smart.”

For Ahmed, accountability remains a critical differentiator. “People don’t want to talk to a call centre or take a reference number. When you’ve got the owner of the business that you can talk to, that’s a huge advantage.”

Patience and perseverance have become defining characteristics of his leadership style. “Sometimes it’s difficult to keep the team motivated because closing a deal can take six months. Last year we had one that took 14 months to close. If you keep your head down and continue working, you will reap the rewards.”

While Ahmed is proud of his commercial achieve ments, some of his most meaningful work has taken place outside the boardroom. Through a partnership between Mancosa and the Department of Basic Education, he has helped advance the vision of the late Professor Yusuf Karodia to place one million books into the hands of previously disadvantaged learners.

Ahmed and his colleagues have personally visited hundreds of schools across South Africa in support of the initiative. “We’ve visited 400 schools and distributed more than 200,000 books. We’re well on our way to reaching that million-book target. I would like to think that’s a proud legacy that Professor Karodia left behind and that we’re continuing today.”

RESILIENCE THROUGH ADVERSITY

Ahmed’s entrepreneurial spirit extends to his involvement in Compassline Africa Tours, a business that has been operating for almost two decades. The company faced one of its greatest challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic when international tourism came to a standstill.

“We had absolutely zero bookings and were on the verge of closing the business,” he recalls. Through the commitment and sacrifices of the team, however, the business survived. As travel resumed, Compassline experienced remarkable growth, welcoming visitors from Europe, the United States and other international markets.

Ahmed is particularly proud of the ten women who form the backbone of the business and whose dedication helped transform it into a post-pandemic success story.

Ahmed is equally passionate about the future of KwaZulu-Natal. He believes the province’s success depends on stronger collaboration between business, government and education. “Education is the foundation of the success of any region,” he says. “Businesses need to collaborate more closely with government and invest in education.” He also sees significant opportunities for growth within the tourism sector.