We recently interviewed Lilian Atho, Founder & CEO of Real-Time Group Global, a group of service-centric companies focusing on offering quality, efficient, and convenient services to all clients. The brand ensures they help the businesses grow and meet all their corporate needs. Lilian Atho has a long expertise in working in the executive office industry. She is highly skilled in negotiation, sales, budgeting, and business planning. Let’s learn more about Lilian Atho and her journey through this interview below.
Critical Milestones In This Journey
While establishing a successful business, owners experience different turning points and achieve specific milestones. We asked, “Can you share key milestones and turning points in your journey as an industry leader or entrepreneur?”
Lilian shared, “One of the key milestones that I pride myself in is successfully establishing Real Time Group Global FZCO in Dubai (meaning free zone that now puts us in the path of business expansion globally) as a reputable company in the industry, expanding our client base globally, and achieving significant revenue growth year after year.
Additionally, a significant turning point was when we secured a strategic partnership with key industry players in the tours and travel sector in UAE; we are now doing a lot of tours and travel globally, and in the tourism sector, we are trying to see how people in the UAE can come and enjoy nature, sites in South Africa. Our company is also doing consultancies with different organizations on how to fund women-led businesses after realizing the challenges women face in accessing funding. Another turning point as an industry leader was when I recently gave a talk during the Women’s Convention in South Sudan. I met women who have been in the military and now want to start their businesses. When I tell women I began the business barely at 25, they get shocked.”
Lilian Atho added, “For example, when we started Real Time, we barely had bank accounts loaded with money, no inheritance (which in this case would have been my father’s shop). It was just about me and what I wanted to do. My entrepreneurship story has been a sort of awakening call for women. I wouldn’t end without pointing out the roots of our vision that would later morph into our global outfit today: In 2006, I operated a small restaurant in the estate (selling fries, smokies, sausages) and later a grocery and cereals shop. And as the vision expanded, in 2014, Real-Time Company was born.”
Inspiration Behind This Company
We were intrigued to learn what majorly influenced Lilian Atho in building her company. We asked, “What inspired you to start your own company or venture in this industry?”
Lilian Atho shared, “Real Time Group- Global was inspired by the fact that I needed to tell people that I will be there on time, “If you give me work, I will deliver it in time”-and it’s a mantra that continues to define who we are as a global brand. Interestingly, I trained as a teacher and taught for two years. But apparently, I wouldn’t say I liked teaching and later quit. I took a stint at Utalii College in Nairobi, Kenya, to learn more about cooking because “I love cooking, and it’s never been anything I think twice about.”
I later came down and opened a small restaurant in the estate, with its fair share of challenges. “As an estate-run business, there is this anticipation that people will buy the food. So I went to the slaughterhouse and bought an arm and a leg. It’s the middle of the month, and nobody is buying. I had to carry the meat back to the house. We were eating meat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because we couldn’t afford to have it thrown out”. Later in 2018, Real-Time Company was born.”
Sir continued, “I would open a restaurant at the Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board, and while delivering food to a particular CEO who asked whether my company would do ticketing, hotel reservations, and travels and bookings, I came back and assessed the market and Real-Time Tours and Travel was born. And through tapping on the opportunities that were presented during my entrepreneurship journey, I have been able to start and operate a conglomerate of seven companies under the Real-Time Group, including; Restaurant and Catering, Pharmaceutical Sales, Consultancy Services, Security Provision, and Real Time Foundation.”
Adapting To the Latest Innovation
For a strong position in the industry, switching to encourage innovative ideas and opportunities is paramount. So we asked, “How do you foster innovation within your company? Can you provide an example of a successful innovation initiative?”
Lilian Atho replied, “At Real Time Group Global, we foster innovation by creating an environment that encourages collaboration and creativity. We provide our professionals with the necessary resources, support, and freedom to explore new ideas, develop innovative solutions, and take calculated risks. An example of a successful innovative initiative was introducing a new data analytics platform that revolutionized our data-driven decision-making processes, improving operational efficiency and better customer insights.
Our flagship software programs are:
- a) M-Afya and Afya Nova – These groundbreaking products specifically target the healthcare industry, revolutionizing how hospitals are managed from a patient’s perspective. They encompass a comprehensive range of features that span from streamlining hospital administration, including human resources, supply chain management, and finance, to enhancing the patient’s experience throughout their hospital journey. While our current focus is primarily on county-level implementation, plans may also involve expanding these solutions to encompass private healthcare institutions.
- b) Real pay- A robust system designed to streamline revenue collection processes for county governments. By integrating finance and supply chain management functions into a centralized platform, Real Pay aims to consolidate all revenue streams, simplifying the financial operations of local administrations.
- c) Gatesec- a cutting-edge gated community management system. This innovative solution primarily focuses on enhancing security within gated communities by incorporating features that allow homeowners to manage access control efficiently. Gatesec enables residents to monitor the number of household members, track registered vehicles, and receive timely alerts, ensuring heightened security and convenience.”
Lilian Atho added, “By proactively updating the system with relevant information, homeowners can streamline visitor management processes and enhance overall safety.
As an Industry leader, I have faced challenges such as intense competition, rapidly evolving technologies, and market disruptions. To overcome these challenges, I prioritize staying abreast of industry trends and developments, investing in research and development, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability within the organization. Building solid relationships with clients and partners has also been crucial in navigating challenges and maintaining a competitive edge.
We employ several strategies to stay ahead of the competition and maintain a strong market position. This includes regularly assessing market trends, customer needs, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
We also prioritize delivering exceptional customer experiences, investing in talent development, and nurturing strategic partnerships to enhance our offerings and expand our reach.”
Attracting The Real Talent
Having the right team is crucial for a company’s success. We asked, “How do you attract and retain top talent in your organization?”
Lilian Atho replied, “We have a vast network of people; we are huge on networking. We get to know different people in different industries through networking and socialization. As you know, we are a conglomerate dealing with many areas in the industry. Also, our main focus is consultancy, where we approach different individuals in all varying sectors sometimes that we are also not in. So that’s how we mainly attract top talent and keep them is through up-to-date interactions and workflow flowing well in terms of deadlines, and we also tend to give incentives.”
Effective Networking
Strong bonds and trust among the entire team foster the growth of a business. So we asked, “How important has mentorship and networking been in your professional journey?”
Lilian Atho replied, “I want to be remembered as that woman entrepreneur who transformed the lives of young people in society. Ask me how? If you walk into this company, I have a certain age group- “I want to give young people a chance to grow and do something they love .”Worth mentioning is also the boy child mentorship activities that we carry out through our Real-Time Foundation arm, where we conduct monthly visits and capacity-building talks with different children’s homes across Kenya. Bringing up and taking care of the boychild is something I do with a lot of passion.
Mentorship programs also form part of how we retain and keep top talent, through which our company has grown to where it is. Most of the employees are being mentored by various people in the industry, especially in the consultancy where we have professional consultants in different sectors, the interaction between the consultants and part of our staff. That is how we mentor and network with people out there. Further, we have had facilitation projects with some of the County governments, which continues to help us keep the mentorship aspect as part of our mandate.”
Managing Risks
To get an idea about Lilian Athos‘ risk management factors, we asked, “How do you assess and mitigate risks in your business?”
Lilian Atho shared, “Through our consultants, who are professionals, we have stakeholders’ meetings with people within and without all our business partners. Through that, we can assess our strategies in the company, whether they will be fruitful or not, and how to go ahead with them. We also conduct risk management and feasibility tests before going into any project or partnership so that we can be well informed in advance on how the project will look like.”
Adapting To Latest Trends
“How do you adapt your business strategy to capitalize on emerging opportunities and industry shifts?”
Lilian Atho replied, “Prioritizing and managing time effectively is crucial for a leader. I prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency, delegate responsibilities to capable team members, and leverage time management tools and techniques. Additionally, I regularly assess my schedule and adjust as needed to ensure that strategic objectives are met while allowing flexibility and adaptability.”
Advice To Beginners
Beginners starting in the same field will undoubtedly find hearing from an expert like Ahmed inspiring and helpful. So we asked, “What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs in this industry? What key lessons have you learned along the way?”
Lilian Atho shared, “The kind of advice I would love to give any aspiring entrepreneur is that “It is never easy. So don’t give up”. And that is why my entrepreneurial journey mirrors the bitter-sweet life of a cat. And that is why I sum up my entrepreneurial journey as “that of a cat”-I have got nine lives. You pierce me through this side; I don’t go down. Each chapter of my entrepreneurial journey will be a replica of a cat’s life; chapter one will dwell on its conception, chapter two its early life, and chapter three the nine lives signifying the changes in the business ecosystem.
Aspiring entrepreneurs or individuals looking to start their venture in this industry should thoroughly research the market, identify a unique value proposition, and develop a solid business plan. It’s essential to surround yourself with a diverse and talented team, continuously learn and adapt to changing market conditions, and be resilient in the face of challenges. Most importantly, always maintain your passion and vision for your venture.”
She further added, “When hiring new talent for our organization, essential skills and qualities we look for include:
- Expertise in their respective fields
- A passion for innovation
- Strong problem-solving abilities
- Adaptability
- Practical communication skills
- A collaborative mindset
We value individuals who demonstrate leadership potential, exhibit a growth mindset, and align with our company’s core values.”
Visions For the Company’s Growth
“What are your long-term goals for your company? How do you plan to remain competitive in the evolving business landscape?”
Lilian Atho shared, “Our strategic plan involves continuously monitoring market trends, embracing emerging technologies, and investing in research and development. Furthermore, we emphasize fostering a culture of innovation and empowering our talented workforce to drive forward-thinking initiatives. By proactively identifying emerging opportunities and embracing change, we are confident in maintaining a competitive edge in the dynamic and ever-evolving business landscape.
We also have a vision to remain broad with every aspect of entrepreneurship that aspires to bring new business IQs to society.
Our next vision is Artificial Intelligence which is the next big thing in the world, and we are already working and developing the technological tools for this within the Real Time Group – Global.”
Connect with Lilian Atho on LinkedIn.
Find Real Time Group Global on LinkedIn or visit https://realtimegroup.co.ke/.
