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Episode 5

Starting an IT company from nothing

Zana Othman

Zana Othman on founding an IT company in Kurdistan: the fields inside tech, how ERP and large systems get built, and advice for young people entering the industry.

What we cover

  • Starting an IT company from nothing
  • How ERP and large systems get built
  • The future of IT and AI
  • Zana's first jobs, before university
  • How he found his way into IT without ever planning it
  • Advice for young people going into tech
Chapters (66)
StartSport and footballThe name Sharp SoftLine of workAre your systems ready to use?Childhood and birthplacePlaying for Sulaymaniyah clubWorking as a childGardening and plant nurseriesWhy houseplants wiltWhy did you work as a child?Driving a taxiHow work affected studyingHow did the interest in the field begin?Graduation project: weather forecastingWorking after universitySponsorFounding Sharp SoftEarly services, and ERP (management systems)Costs, and winning an international awardCompetition, and Sharp Soft's successHow would I use your system in my organisation?What are the steps to getting the system running?The system's price and how it's soldHow culture shapes business in KurdistanCustomer trustWere the early days hard?Building a loyal teamA healthy workplaceSponsorGood, capable staffDoes being good to staff move the business forward?Building a good culture and workplaceHow much does money matter in business?Keeping staff, and keeping them contentSharp Soft's ERP compared with global companiesWhat Sharp Soft's ERP costs, and who needs itRunning with a system, and without oneHow soon does Sharp Soft make a difference?How sales work, and their problemsA business owner's risky decisionsFair dealingHow tech departments teachWhich department should a student choose?What are the IT fields, and how do we choose?Filling in the Zankoline formHow does Zankoline choose your department?Mistakes when filling in the Zankoline formIs theory alone enough to succeed?Does the university system hold you back?AI's effect on workUsing AI at Sharp SoftIt matters to be a good AI userSponsorHow does Sharp Soft use AI?What is AI, and how does it work?AI makes people lazyFuture plansE-governmentWhy are government offices so slow?What do you regret?How to start working in techDo developers work with AI?What matters when hiring?Do you build apps?Closing