Africa’s story of progress is being written through signals that leap across deserts, towers that rise in remote villages, and innovations that bring distant voices closer than ever before. The continent’s telecom landscape is a space of immense contrast, where challenges such as infrastructure gaps and energy constraints meet boundless opportunities for growth and inclusion. Each challenge is also an invitation to innovate, and each opportunity carries the promise of transformation. Here, connectivity is more than a service. It is the foundation for education, commerce, and human connection, carrying within it the vision of a continent stepping boldly into the digital future.
It is within this space that Olga Kayayan has built her path, blending her global perspective with African purpose. Olga Kayayan Managing and External Relations Director of Boniswa Corporate Solutions, she embodies the balance of international experience and local commitment.
With more than 20 years of international experience, Olga’s global journey has been instrumental in shaping her leadership approach at Boniswa. Having lived and worked across Russia, South Africa and France she has developed a multicultural perspective that helps her navigate international markets with agility and empathy. This global insight enables her to lead cross-border partnerships effectively, align with international regulatory environments, and advocate for African business interests on a global stage. It has also instilled in her a deep respect for diversity, which is central to how she builds and leads high-performance teams. Her leadership is rooted in inclusivity, team work, trust, and long-term value creation.
Boniswa’s growth into a respected turnkey telecommunications provider since its founding in 2004 is, in Olga’s view, the result of visionary leadership, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to innovation. Under Ms. Lynnette Magasa’s guidance, the company has embraced transformation and agility, developing advanced infrastructure and manufacturing divisions. Their anti-vandal telecom cabinets and bespoke infrastructure solutions address specific African market needs, which has positioned them as a trusted partner for major clients such as Vodacom and MTN. Additionally, the company is values-driven, with integrity, empowerment, and client-centricity at the core of operations. Olga notes that resilience is tied to adaptability, strong stakeholder relationships, and continuous investment in people and technology.
For Olga, balancing the company’s African market focus with broader opportunities across African continent requires strategic alignment and cultural intelligence. At Boniswa, the priority is on deepening the African footprint while remaining open to strategic partnerships abroad. Her background allows her to serve as both a cultural and commercial bridge. She aligns expansion efforts with global market trends while ensuring that the business remains grounded in African needs and realities. She highlights the company’s expansion outside of African continent as an example of this dual focus on local transformation and international growth.
Having worked across diverse industries such as civil aviation and corporate services, Olga brings unique insights into the telecommunications sector. Her journey through civil aviation taught her the value of precision, compliance, and systemic thinking. Aviation instilled a deep discipline in process management and risk assessment, which she now applies to telecom infrastructure development. Her experience in corporate services sharpened her stakeholder management and negotiation skills. These cross-sector insights allow her to approach telecommunications with a holistic lens, one that appreciates both the technical and human dimensions of the industry.
Boniswa Group is part of a larger group with manufacturing and tower infrastructure arms, and Olga is part of the group management team that ensures synergy across these divisions through unified strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and shared KPIs. As Managing and External Relations Director, she plays a key role in aligning external partnerships and communications across telecom, tower, and manufacturing divisions. The company maintains open communication channels, regular strategic reviews, and integrated project planning. This ensures that while each unit retains operational autonomy, they collectively advance Boniswa’s broader vision of delivering seamless, secure, and scalable connectivity solutions.
Transformation is not an afterthought for Boniswa but embedded in its DNA. Olga emphasizes that the company does not simply comply with empowerment codes, but actively champions them. Hiring, training, and mentorship programs focus on uplifting women, youth, and underrepresented communities. Through bursaries and graduate programs, Boniswa cultivates future telecom leaders. Olga describes the transformation strategy as both ethical and strategic, noting that diverse teams drive innovation and empowered communities become sustainable markets. This commitment continues to be a key differentiator for the company.
Olga’s collaboration with global policymakers as a B20 Summit task member has significantly influenced her work in South Africa and across the African continent. Her participation in B20 Summits across Germany, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa has provided her with a macroeconomic and geopolitical perspective that enriches her role at Boniswa. These platforms allow her to advocate for African SMEs, understand global trends in industrial transformation, and shape strategies that future-proof the business. They also build credibility for Boniswa, positioning the company as a thought leader in the telecom space.
Telecommunications is a fast-changing field, and Olga sees both pressing challenges and promising opportunities in the African market. Infrastructure gaps, energy constraints, and regulatory fragmentation are among the obstacles. However, she believes these also present immense opportunities. The rise of 5G, digital inclusion initiatives, and public-private partnerships creates fertile ground for innovation. With hybrid cabinets, tower leasing solutions, and site construction expertise, Boniswa is well-positioned to lead in these areas. Olga points to rural connectivity, energy-efficient technologies, and smart city infrastructure as promising growth areas.
Stakeholder engagement is central to Olga’s role, and she approaches it through the lens of listening and understanding. She invests time in learning the motivations, concerns, and expectations of each stakeholder group. Whether it is government regulators, telecom partners, or community leaders, she focuses on building trust through transparency, responsiveness, and shared value creation. She believes the company’s success lies in the visionary leadership of the Group CEO Lynnette Magasa, and in aligning commercial goals with social impact. For Boniswa, connectivity is a public good, and every stakeholder is treated as a valued partner in progress.
Stories of Human Impact
Olga recalls many projects where Boniswa has brought connectivity to communities. Time and again, she has witnessed how access to reliable mobile networks transforms lives. Connectivity opens doors to education, enabling children to tap into online learning resources. It fuels local economies, allowing entrepreneurs to reach broader markets through digital platforms. And it strengthens family bonds, making it possible for people to stay close to loved ones across provinces and even across borders. For Olga, these are not just telecom projects but human connections and lifelines to opportunity, representing the true impact of the company’s work.
Language as a Bridge for Global Alliances
As a multilingual leader working across continents, Olga sees language as a bridge rather than a barrier. Being fluent in English, French, and Russian, allows her to communicate with authenticity across markets. Yet, she insists that cultural understanding goes beyond words. She adapts her communication and negotiation styles depending on context, which helps her build trust and rapport. In her view, cultural fluency is just as critical as technical expertise in forging global partnerships.
A Vision for the Next Chapter
Looking ahead, Olga envisions the next chapter of Boniswa Group as one of scaling impact. In South Africa, the company aims to deepen its footprint in underserved regions to bridge digital divide between rural and urban areas. Internationally, plans are in motion to expand across Africa and the Middle East, strengthening the infrastructure footprint and forming strategic partnerships with regional telecom leaders. Olga’s vision is for Boniswa to be recognized not just as a telecom player, but as a catalyst for inclusive digital growth across borders. She remains committed to leading with innovation, integrity, and a resolute dedication to empowerment.
