GET TO KNOW...
On the lighter side of things, we ask the
industry experts what makes them tick. . . .
Sherry Zameer, SVP Internet of
Things for CISMEA at Gemalto
1
What made you think of a
career in technology?
I am not sure if I picked a career in technology or if technology
chose me. From an early age, I have been fascinated by trying to
understand how things work and have always appreciated the
potential of technology to change lives and empower people. I
knew I wanted to be a part of this change. I studied electronics in
university, followed by a Master’s degree in telecommunications, and
went on to work in the same industry almost instinctively without
considering any other career path.
2
What are the region-
specific challenges
when implementing new
technologies in Africa?
The main challenge in Africa is having reliable and sufficient
electricity to cover such a vast geographical area. In order to
overcome this barrier, Gemalto and M-KOPA are working together
to enable pay-as-you-go solar which means users can now release
electricity by sending an SMS from mobile money to generate
electricity when needed. The solution provides rent-to-own solar
energy products that help provide affordable and reliable solar power
to rural homes.
In addition, another solution that is helping to overcome challenges
in this region is leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT). The ability
for devices or ‘Things’ to sense, share data and collaborate across
a network will bring numerous benefits to the African market. As a
result of the enormous volumes of actionable data generated by
the network of ‘Things’, costs will be reduced, competitiveness is
improved and greater operational efficiencies are realised.
However, in order to have a truly connected world, it only makes
sense if that connected world is a secure one! The rise of IoT is driving
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increasing concern about the threat of cyberattacks at home and work.
African consumers and businesses need to have trust in the devices
and digital services they will use. In order to achieve this, it is essential
to adopt a ‘Security by Design’ approach to connected IoT offers,
where security is planned up front and not as an afterthought.
3
What style of management
philosophy do you employ
with your current position?
I aim to identify and nurture my employees’ natural talent and
empower them to express their creativity to realise their full potential.
I am passionate about mentoring staff to allow them to learn and
grow. I always seek to provide new opportunities for my staff to
acquire new skills and encourage them to ask questions and ensure
their contributions are recognised and valued. If I can help create a
vision for my team to work towards and convert this into reality, then
this would be my idea of success in management.
4
What do you think is the
current hot technology
talking point?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is bridging the barriers between the
physical world and the digital world. AI has the potential to change
every aspect of our lives from customer care, manufacturing
and autonomous vehicles. The application of machine learning
and cognitive predictive analytics in the Internet of Things (IoT)
and smart cities will create solutions that enrich the lives of this
generation and the next. The level of automation that AI has
to offer does not necessarily make humans redundant but, on
the contrary, it will revolutionise our approach to solution design
and problem solving and force us to be more imaginative and
creative. I believe AI could potentially have the same impact as
the industrial revolution.
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