Beyond corporate: Zoaib Hoosen continues to shape SA’s tech future

From IT graduate at IBM to Managing Director of Microsoft SA and Executive in Residence at Sanari Capital, Zoaib Hoosen has always cut his own path

When Zoaib Hoosen insisted that he wanted to study “this thing called Computer Science” after high school it caused such a stir that his parents organised an ‘intervention’ with the wider family to try to persuade him against it.

“It was a big thing in the Indian community in South Africa during apartheid that the jobs you chose were those where you could be self-employed, such as doctor, accountant, lawyer,” Hoosen says. But the young Hoosen refused to be pigeon-holed then, as now. He stuck to his guns and kept his family happy with a compromise of registering for a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science, at the University of Durban Westville.

He says the family thought he would come to his senses “in year two … and do something like optometry or pharmacy to get a proper job”.  Instead, after completing his degree, he doubled down and did a 4-month Cobol[1] programming course with Van Zyl and Pritchard, who got him an interview for a job at IBM.

Hoosen was offered a position in the application programming environment at IBM. That was 1989 and it was to be the beginning of a career of extraordinary depth and breadth in the burgeoning tech industry. In those days, most people thought of computers as an interesting field of experimentation in a rather curious parallel universe; today we accept technology’s pre-eminent role in all aspects of modern life.

Hoosen’s refusal to be held back was one of the forces that propelled him from humble beginnings, as the son of a furniture salesman in the mixed-race neighbourhood known as ‘the Casbah’ in downtown Durban, to the upper echelons of the global tech sector.

Then, in 2019, at the height of his career, as Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa, Hoosen chose to exit the corporate world instead of pursuing a career abroad with Microsoft. He has since reinvented himself as what one might describe as an elder stateman of technology and leadership.

He playfully talks about his “gig portfolio”, with the main “gig” at private equity firm Sanari Capital, the women-led, majority Black-managed and owned South African private equity firm. He serves as Executive-in-Residence and Value Add Executive, and advises the Investment Committee. Hoosen’s various other roles include Non-Executive Director of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Chair of the SARB Board Risk and Ethics Committee and member of the Audit Committee, as well as an advisory board role at GIBS Business School. His dedication to youth and education is reflected in his long-standing role with the Maths Centre, an NPO focused on educational development, where he has served on the board for nearly 20 years, including several as Chair.

His work at Sanari, the firm that raised R1.5 billion ($80 million) for its Sanari 3S Growth Fund in late 2023, keeps him engaged without the intense operational demands of his corporate past.

“I contribute by working with management in our portfolio companies to unlock value through strategy and general management, sales and business development, leadership and management development, as well as leveraging my sectoral know-how and network,” he says.

As one might expect, having a tech expert of this calibre available means that everybody wants his input. What is becoming interesting, he says, is that in this digital economy most businesses are at their core software businesses whether they realise it or not.

“Software is no longer just an enabler; it is the backbone of competitive advantage, operational efficiency and customer experience. From logistics to manufacturing, finance to healthcare, businesses that do not actively leverage software to automate, optimise and innovate risk falling behind,” says Hoosen.

“Even traditionally non-tech industries must think like software companies – integrating data, AI and digital platforms to remain agile and scalable in an increasingly tech-driven world.”

As businesses navigate this digital era, the distinction between ‘tech companies’ and ‘traditional businesses’ is blurring fast, he says. “I find myself engaging with the Sanari deal team at the transacting stage more frequently.”

Hoosen says he finds working with the Sanari Capital team, which is “driven by a culture of deep expertise, dynamic thinking and a shared passion for growth”, stimulating and rewarding.

“It’s an environment where insights are challenged, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration is genuinely fun. The energy and curiosity within the team make every interaction a learning experience, reinforcing why I enjoy being part of this journey,” says Hoosen.

Constant evolution

It is an enormous advantage that his expertise is so deep and wide after a career of constant evolution. In his 22 years at IBM for example, he says, “I don’t think I did a job for longer than two years”.

Hoosen, who mentors several young people, is aware that it is harder to find an employer who encourages this sort of evolution these days. “A lot of the younger people I mentor say their leadership wants to hold on to them in a particular space. Often it is because of a shortage of skills.

“They want to move, but they find it difficult.” he adds, noting that this pigeon-holing sometimes leads to companies losing talent.

“There are still some companies that will promote it. I know Microsoft certainly does encourage people to move within the organisation. Global moves create a different problem, especially in the skills-scarce South African context.”

The decision to stay in South Africa played a big role in Hoosen leaving Microsoft when he did. He had already worked abroad, with IBM, and didn’t want to move again. “I chose to stay in South Africa,” he says. That was when he decided, at the age of 55, in a conversation with his daughter, that he could probably reinvent myself.

“This transition isn’t just about what I do next; it’s about how I shape a life that is both fulfilling and future-focused, where I can contribute strategically while also making space for the things that truly matter.”

The world’s loss; South Africa’s gain.

[1] Common Business Oriented Language, or Cobol, is one of the original and most significant computer programming languages, used widely in business applications. A key player among the first high-level languages, Cobol was created in the late 1950s.