Skills Over Servers: The AWS Approach

When you ask Chris Erasmus, Country General Manager for AWS South Africa, about technology’s future in South Africa, he doesn’t start with servers or software. He starts with people.

“We’re facing a massive skills challenge,” Erasmus says, with the quiet intensity of someone who’s diagnosed a critical problem. “In South Africa, we need around 60,000 technical professionals annually, but we’re only producing 10,000 who are genuinely work-ready.”

These aren’t just numbers to him. They represent potential – young minds waiting to be developed, careers waiting to be launched.

AWS’s approach defies conventional hiring wisdom. “We look for individuals who are logical, prepared to solve really hard problems,” Erasmus explains. “The specific technical skills? We’ll develop those. What matters is the fundamental ability to think, to learn, to adapt.”

It’s a philosophy rooted in personal experience. Erasmus remembers being 18, given a chance to shadow a professional, then gradually building his skills. “Someone took a chance on me,” he says. “That’s what we need to do for our young talent.”

The company’s commitment goes beyond rhetoric. A recent $100 million education equity initiative demonstrates AWS’s serious investment in skills development. But it’s not just about throwing money at the problem – it’s about creating meaningful pathways.

“Our best talent often comes from internships,” Erasmus says. “We’ve grown and developed individuals over years, watching them transform from junior roles to critical team members.”

This approach recognises a fundamental truth about technological innovation: it’s driven by human potential, not just technical prowess. With 25% of global population growth expected in Africa by 2050, AWS is positioning itself not just as a tech company, but as a catalyst for broader social transformation.

The localisation of technology becomes crucial. AWS isn’t just importing global solutions – they’re developing tools that understand African languages, contexts, and specific market needs.

“We want to make sure our technology serves our customers – and our customers’ customers,” Erasmus says. “It’s about understanding local nuances, creating relevant solutions.”

This means developing services in languages like isiZulu, Afrikaans and more, creating transcription and translation tools that reflect South Africa’s linguistic diversity. It means working closely with local partners to ensure technological solutions aren’t just imported, but genuinely integrated.

For Erasmus, it’s about more than business. It’s about opportunity. “If we can impart knowledge and enable people, we can drive real societal change,” he says. “Success and scale bring responsibility.”

That responsibility manifests in practical ways. AWS doesn’t just want to accelerate digital transformation – they want to ensure it happens responsibly, with genuine skill development at its core.

“In many cases, we’ll help a customer grow slightly slower to ensure they’re building skills properly,” Erasmus explains. “We’d rather de-risk their journey and achieve a more sustainable outcome.”

The numbers tell a compelling story. But behind those numbers are real people – young professionals being given genuine opportunities to build meaningful careers in technology.

As tech conversations buzz about AI and cloud services, AWS’s approach cuts through the noise. This isn’t about selling a product. It’s about building futures – one skilled professional at a time.

The real measure of technological progress isn’t found in glittering data centres or sleek presentations. It’s in the stories of young South Africans who get their first real shot at a meaningful career, supported by a company that sees potential where others see only gaps.

Read next: AWS Skills Centre: Empowering South Africa’s Digital Future