GET TO KNOW...
On the lighter side of things, we ask the
industry experts what makes them tick. . . .
Yolanda Smit,
Regional Director (Gauteng) at PBT Group.
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What would you describe as your
most memorable achievement? What do you think is the current hot
technology talking point?
My most memorable achievement is where
I am in my career now – being part of the
dynamic data space and having seen myself
assume a leadership position at a fairly
young age, while still managing to find a
good work/life balance. It has been nothing
less than a dream come true for me. We are starting to see an undeniable shift
from a focus on pure technology to a
strong interest in data. While the focus in
the past has been on ‘what are the latest
technologies we need to chase’ there is a
realisation that technology itself is playing
‘second fiddle’ to the wealth of opportunity
companies can unlock from their available
data. In the evolving technology world,
technology-spend is becoming driven
by data and the ability to harness the
power of data to allow businesses to make
more informed decisions. My view is that
technologies that place data at the centre
will continue to gain the most attention.
What first made you think of a
career in technology?
I was fortunate enough to have been
exposed to the technology industry from
a very young age. My father was my first
inspiration, and to this day I have great
admiration for his work and achievements in
the technology environment. He introduced
me to BI and since then, I have spent my
working career exploring my passion for
data, growing my knowledge and expertise
in this very exciting and dynamic field.
What style of management
philosophy do you employ with your
current position?
Servant leadership. This means that I focus
on empowering staff through providing
guidance, while also involving them in
responsibility and accountability for projects.
I also ensure that I walk the project road with
them, providing support as it is required .
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