Lenovo’s 2025 Champions Initiative: Driving Innovation, Inclusion, and Collaborative Power

Johannesburg – Lenovo Southern Africa recently hosted its annual Lenovo Accelerate ’25 event, bringing together channel partners, CXOs, business leaders, and technology innovators for a day focused on the future of technology in Southern Africa.

This year’s discussions highlighted crucial topics such as infrastructure, sustainability, digital transformation, and the essential role of AI in both business and society.

The multinational technology company presented its latest innovations and comprehensive solutions from its Intelligent Devices Group (IDG), Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), and Solutions and Services Group (SSG).

The event provided a strategic platform for Lenovo and its ecosystem to align mutual goals, co-create value, and strengthen relationships in a fast-evolving digital landscape.

Partnerships, Smart Infrastructure, and AI-Driven Innovation

Yugen Naidoo, General Manager of Lenovo Southern Africa, underscored the event’s importance in nurturing collaborative growth and ensuring customer success:

“We take pride in being a global technology leader at Lenovo, offering an end-to-end portfolio that is AI-ready, AI-enabled, and AI-optimized,” Naidoo stated.

“Through our Smart Devices, we enhance people’s capabilities while proactively meeting their evolving needs and safeguarding their data and privacy.”

Naidoo also acknowledged the outstanding achievements of its channel ecosystem in various domains, emphasizing the critical role of partnerships in delivering customer-focused innovations.

“Our Smart Infrastructure streamlines and enhances the AI experience, providing the expertise that transforms business operations,” Naidoo added.

“With our Smart Verticals, we drive significant impacts in essential industries, whether it’s improving educational outcomes, advancing healthcare, optimizing manufacturing processes, or fostering exceptional creativity in film and animation.

“This is how we deliver smarter technology for everyone—not just imagining the future, but actively creating it, inclusively and intelligently,” Naidoo concluded.

Exploring the Future: Creativity, AI, and Collaboration Take Centre Stage

A focal point of the program was the keynote address by Kate Swanborg, Executive of Technology Communications & Strategic Alliances at DreamWorks Animation.

Her session, titled ‘Working at the Speed of Imagination’, offered valuable insights into how technology and creativity converge to drive global innovation.

Two impactful panel discussions further enriched the agenda.

The first, ‘Smarter AI for All – Business, Innovation & Inclusion’, featured Thibault Dousson, Director of the Services and Solutions Group META at Lenovo; Andrea Talmacsi, Marketing Director for Lenovo PCSD in the Middle East and Africa; and Tikiri Wanduragala, EMEA Senior Consultant for Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions.

This session examined how AI can foster equity and business growth, particularly in emerging markets.

The second panel, titled ‘The Power of Partnership: Unlocking AI Across the Ecosystem’, included Nathan Reddy, Industry Technical Specialist at Intel Corporation; Colin Erasmus, COO at Microsoft South Africa; and Werner Schoeman, Relationship Sales Lead at Lenovo Southern Africa.

Together, they discussed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in expanding access to next-generation technologies and accelerating digital transformation across the region.

The event concluded with a tour of Lenovo’s immersive experience zones, followed by a networking session that provided attendees the opportunity to explore new technologies and strengthen partnerships.

Bridging Consumer Innovation and Enterprise-Grade Mobility

MBG (Mobile Business Group) plays a vital role in Lenovo’s pocket-to-cloud solution, showcasing the company’s experience across the complete technology spectrum.

A standout feature of this year’s event was the significant presentation of Motorola, Lenovo’s mobile technology leader, which remains critical in both consumer and business markets.

From foldable screens and AI-driven capabilities to 5G connectivity and military-grade durability, the brand truly exemplifies delivering “smarter technology for all.”

Motorola’s AI-enabled, enterprise-ready devices come equipped with cutting-edge hardware and advanced software functionalities, including security enhancements and comprehensive device management, making them perfect for demanding applications in industries like logistics, field services, healthcare, and education.

Reflecting on the event, Naidoo noted: “Lenovo Accelerate 2025 was a celebration of our journey—four decades of Lenovo, the communities we serve, and the innovative partnerships we forge.

“We are dedicated to creating intelligent ecosystems that redefine how people live, work, and tackle global challenges.

“Sustainability remains a core commitment.

“It’s now a business necessity rather than a luxury, fundamentally influencing how we design, construct, and implement technological solutions in every interaction.

“Our aim is to deliver tangible impact with technology that is smarter by design and trusted by the world’s most significant industries.”