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Other than running a couple of times a week , I try to squeeze in a few of minutes of self-care each day . This ranges from small little things like taking care of my skin , trying healthier recipes for my family , having a bit of a creative outlet by making something ( I ’ m a huge DIY fan ) and just settling down with a good detective novel and a glass of wine every now and then .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
In hearing this question , I am immediately taken back to a few crossroads in my career , though I do not think I would change anything significantly . I am a firm believer that our mistakes are what shape us into the people we become and that the lessons we learn far outweigh the negative experience itself . My choices brought me to where I am today , and I am thankful for it .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in Africa ?
Availability of robust infrastructure and slow uptake to technological advancements seems to be key in the lagging economic growth in Africa . However , it is strengthening as there is a shift towards tech-enabled value addition to enhance business processes .
As automation of work is becoming more prevalent one of the main challenges that we face in the voice analytics field in South Africa is the capability of companies recording their phone calls in stereo . For pre-recorded calls to be automatically analysed , it is required that the subject ’ s voice be on a different channel than that of the agent . Development in VoIP systems will greatly aid in the automation of the analysis process .
There are positive changes though that I should have made earlier , like starting my part-time studies earlier in my career and taking on more responsibilities at that time and learning about my work ecosystem . I believe it would have leapfrogged my career trajectory .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
Africa has great potential for acceleration and the uptake of digital technology will greatly drive the economic development of our region . In the far East , there is a big demand for our voice analysis solutions , especially in IT enabled service sectors like call centres . We are already beginning to see rapid growth in this market in South Africa to support global business services because of a number of factors : South Africa has a strong foundation in contact centres and niched areas with a deep domain knowledge in for instance areas of financial services , legal and healthcare etc . Our sector opportunities lie in these companies utilising the insights from our voice analysis systems , such as the InTone , to support the numerous areas of business decision making .
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?
The last year was especially tough considering the embargos that corporates placed on face-to-face meetings . Building relationships digitally falls short of the real thing . Though it is convenient to set up virtual meetings , people miss out on the finer things that real-life meetings have to offer , such as the ice breakers , the banter , the fun parts of business dealings . Luckily for me , I found a way to overcome this barrier somewhat , I use my InTone whilst in my virtual meetings to give me insights into the current mindset of the person I am speaking to . This is a huge benefit in my business dealings as it allows me to steer the conversation in a positive direction .
The focus for the year ahead will be to strategically build on this new world of work to convert the challenges into value adding solutions .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain c-level position in your industry ?
Another interesting area of growth that we ’ re seeing is the use of our wellbeing assessments to manage and prevent burn-out . Burnout is one of the biggest issues facing companies right now , affecting a whopping 76 % of the workforce , which is why companies are prioritising mental health .
First things first , education and qualifications are not everything nowadays . Experience is what ultimately drives the achievement of a c-level position . In that , I would advise anyone who strives to climb the organisational hierarchy to ask questions , and to learn about areas within the company that expand further than your own direct responsibilities . Involve yourself in the inner workings of your industry , learn from your peers , embrace a continuous learning mindset by staying abreast of developments in your field all in pursuit of becoming an expert in your field . In short , learn from work and work to learn . p
72 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com