Carla De Silva

Carla da Silva Caires is the head of client relations and business development at Insite Towers, a leading national telecommunications infrastructure developer and owner. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in expanding the company’s footprint by driving improved connectivity across KwaZulu-Natal.

Carla is a woman deeply driven by purpose. Reflecting on what drew her to the company, she shares, “The
biggest thing that really drew me to the job was the fact that we focused mainly on underserved areas. The
thought of making people that never had access to the digital world able to do online training, education, and hopefully become more financially stable – that’s quite an achievement.”

Her passion lies in connecting the unconnected, especially in rural and mountainous regions. “We really do focus on the rural areas, and that’s really my main focus,” she says. “Going out into the mountains and seeing people who don’t even know about smartphones now being able to connect with each other – that’s powerful.”

Carla counts among her proudest achievements the role she has played in enabling online education and digital access for communities that were previously excluded. “I love that I’ve been a key part in bridging the digital divide in rural communities,” she reflects. “It’s a privilege to help people stay in touch with distant family or access opportunities they never thought possible.”

A BROADER VISION FOR COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT
Insite Towers’ impact extends far beyond infrastructure. Carla is passionate about the company’s commitment to community development. “If we’re building a site in a region, we try and make sure we’re involving the community in the build process, the security side of it, and doing things like putting JoJo tanks into schools – just giving back to the communities that are underserved.”

Carla’s career is marked by bold choices and a strong desire to effect real change. Formerly a human resources director, she initially worked with Insite Towers while recruiting for the start-up. “They didn’t want someone already in the industry, and they wanted a woman because it’s a very male-dominated field,” she recalls.After reviewing the job description, Carla had a moment of clarity. “Everything they were describing sounded like something I wanted to be involved in. I got home, thought about it, and came back saying, ‘What would you think about me being in the role?’. The shareholders said they were actually waiting for me to say that.”

Since stepping into the role, Carla has made a significant impact over the past six years. She has helped shift
perceptions in an industry where women remain underrepresented. “When I walk into a meeting, you
can see people’s eyes go, ‘Oh my gosh, a woman.’ But it’s becoming the norm, and it’s empowering to see so
many more women being employed in the industry.”

OVERCOMING HURDLES AND DRIVING PROGRESS
Carla’s work comes with its share of challenges – particularly around the complex site permitting process. “Permitting for sites can take over a year to get approval,” she explains. “I’ve managed to identify and
unblock the bottlenecks in each region, but it’s certainly been a challenge.”

Despite the difficulties, her efforts have delivered measurable results. “Over the years we’ve streamlined
the process massively; we’ve reduced delays by 20% over the last two years, which is quite an achievement.”
On a personal front, Carla has faced immense adversity with unwavering strength. “I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in December 2024. This year I’m up for a transplant, that’s been a challenge I’m overcoming daily. But I see being here and continuing to work as an achievement.”

She continues to show remarkable resilience. “This has been a huge thing for me to process, but as the weeks have gone by, I’ve managed to get through it with a positive mindset. I still get up and go to gym every morning despite what the inside of my body is doing. It’s crazy what a positive mind can do.”

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Looking ahead, Carla’s ambitions remain deeply rooted in impact. “My goal is to continue expanding the
network, ensuring more people have access to the digital world. Financial growth is one reason, but I’m
also passionate about encouraging women to enter the telecommunications industry. I’ve noticed more and
more women being employed in the space after me and that shows the difference I’ve made.”

Her message to young women is clear and empowering: “Don’t be scared. Whether it’s telecommunications,
construction, or being a pilot, if it’s male-dominated, so what? We, as women, don’t give each other enough
grace for what we’re capable of.”

She continues, “My biggest advice to young women is to believe in their ability to succeed at anything
they set their minds to. The opportunities are there; you have so much to offer the world. I love sharing
my story to show that success is not just a possibility, it’s a reality. We need to nurture our young ambitious
and confident young ladies to stand together and become future leaders in our country. There are no
limits to what us women can do together. I believe in empowering women to not be scared to take on
roles in male-dominated spaces; we are stronger than we think.”

BALANCING PURPOSE AND PARENTHOOD
Despite the demands of her career, Carla takes immense pride in her role as a mother. “I’m a single
mum to a little tennis superstar, Carter, he’s 12,” she says with a smile. “A huge achievement for me is being
able to balance being a mum, running a company, and travelling. It’s challenging, but it’s so rewarding.”
And what does the future hold? “To be healthy, be a good mum, and have the energy to do what I love. I
travel a lot for work, and I want to keep doing what I do; at my best.'