By Insight UK / 28 Aug 2019
1. How does it feel to be nominated 2 years in a row?
It feels wonderful to be recognised for what you do. I am enormously proud of my team and very honoured to be nominated by them as ’Role Model of the Year’. This recognition gives me a motivational boost that my vision and what I do on a daily basis is working.
2. What is your favourite tech gadget?
My favourite piece of technology - to no surprise - is the smartphone. It enables me to do everything I need: work, organise my day, read books, listen to audiobooks and music, watch things, learn things, capture ideas, stay connected to family and friends and so much more.
3. If you were not working in the tech industry, what would you like to do?
No matter what industry you choose, you will inevitably end up working in Tech. Every company is a technology company, regardless what product or service it provides. In my late teens I was all set to pursue legal career, but started a degree in Techno-Mathematics, later shifted to BA in Public Relations and work in business consultancy. What an unexpected turn of events. Given my passionate curiosity and endless love for tech, I'd go with Neuroscience, which would again take me to AI and EQ domain and companies like Neuralink.
4. What advice would you give someone looking to work in the tech industry?
Do it! You will love it. Keep your mind open, you will learn something new every day. Other industries wax or transition into technology business in this digital era; tech booms, adding jobs at an unparalleled rate, and expected to grow another 20-38% by 2020. Just imagine what kind of advancement opportunities you might have in a company whose head count has grown by ten times.
Also, be prepared to work at a stellar pace, things move fast, technology evolves rapidly and it's important to stay abreast. Take the leap, buckle up and enjoy the ride.
5. How do you think technology has impacted your personal life over the last 5 years?
I believe technology has brought a real big change in everyone's life. Talking of personal experience, my life has changed a lot. Luckily, till date positively. It has empowered me to do more, to be more productive, and optimise my time.
Work aside, technology has made access to different things easy and efficient: I shop online and schedule delivery when it is convenient; I book my travelling, pay bills, stay connected, order take away food and learn new things. Technology improved home entertainment: I can record programmes and shows or watch them remotely; platforms and apps like Netflix, JustEat and Amazon have definitely made a difference.
6. If you could invent a piece of tech that does not yet exist – what would it be?
So many options! I'd go with Teleportation, killing many birds with one stone. As a frequent traveller spending countless hours commuting, I cannot think of a better way to optimise my time and increase productivity. Imagine being in your living room and the next moment in Singapore or the Bolivian salt flats or Mars. Furthermore, Teleportation is a key enabling technology for quantum computing. It allows you to extract the information the computer produces without disturbing the rest of the system. And once you can build a quantum computer, the possibilities are endless.
7. What inspired you to pursue a career in tech?
Curiosity. I like finding creative solutions to solve problems. After several years in Business Consultancy and Business Development, shifting my career to tech became the obvious choice. Finding the right time and the entry point, however, was tricky.
8. What’s the one thing you would take if you were stranded on a desert island?
I’m having trouble limiting it to just one item. If I ignore the obvious answers such as a sailboat or a satellite phone, I would choose a mirror. I could then use it to signal passing boats and aircrafts as well as start a fire by focusing sunlight on a single spot.
Look out for the next instalment in this series on Insight’s nominees for the Women in Channel Awards
