Danielle Jacobs

“In Europa” by Geert Mak is a thought-provoking book that gave me new insights into European history and culture.

By chronicling the 20th-century experiences of average citizens across the continent, Mak provided valuable context behind Europe’s development after two world wars. I found it fascinating to learn about the interconnected histories and shared challenges different nations face.

“In Europa” expanded my understanding of Europe’s formation as a unified region and continues influencing my views on its progress today.

A motto I try to live by comes from the words “live and let live.”

To me, this simple phrase encapsulates the importance of respect, acceptance, and allowing others their freedom. In today’s complex world with so many competing interests and ideologies, tolerance is key. No single person or group has a monopoly on truth or the right way of being.

This quote reminds me to embrace differences, address injustices through compassion rather than condemnation, and seek common ground instead of division.

I spent a lot of time outside, playing with children from the neighborhood, in a complete freedom. No adults to control or say what to do. Somewhere between the busy schedules I spent too much time inside. Covid made me realise this.

One hobby I know will always remain meaningful to me is reading. The joy of learning something new or exploring fresh perspectives has stayed with me over the years. No matter how busy life becomes, making time to curl up with a good read is immensely comforting and rejuvenating.

I see reading as one of life’s greatest pleasures, as well as an opportunity for ongoing growth. Even when other interests fade, literature retains its power to spark imagination and boost empathy.

For me, finding satisfaction in my work is a big motivator. I enjoy taking on roles where I’m making meaningful contributions. Seeing the results of projects through to completion is fulfilling.

Continuous learning also inspires me to take on new challenges, which help me grow in my career. Overall, doing work that brings a sense of accomplishment keeps me motivated daily.

My family has been very supportive of my career goals. My parents encouraged me to explore different interests and try new things. Later my husband continued to support me as I develop my skills and take on new roles. Their encouragement has given me the freedom to find my path professionally.

Two major challenges for careers in digital technology are the fast pace of change and lack of broader awareness. First, with new tools, platforms, and roles emerging constantly, it’s difficult even for professionals to stay on top of all the possibilities today compared to just a few years ago. This presents an obstacle for students and young workers trying to map a career path.

Additionally, while job opportunities in tech are growing exponentially, many still see it as limited to just coding or engineering. In reality, careers exist at all levels, from marketing to sales to product design.

A general lack of exposure and understanding of the true diversity of roles hinders some from exploring options that could be a great fit.

One of the biggest challenges facing the technology industry is keeping up with the rapid pace of innovation and change. The pace of advancement sometimes outpaces our ability to understand new technologies and mitigate risks. This fast evolution also poses obstacles for policymakers trying to establish an effective regulatory framework.

Another major obstacle is the growing complexity of regulations as technology becomes more integrated into our lives and economies. As tech shapes everything from privacy to competition to labour, the regulatory landscape grows increasingly intricate.

For an industry driven by disruption and new frontiers, overly prescriptive policies could stifle progress. At the same time, without proper oversight, new technologies could exacerbate societal issues.

Finding the right balance between supportive policies and allowances for continued innovation will be crucial.

One of the most important accelerators for success in the technology field is continuous learning.

More than many other industries, our field advances extraordinarily rapidly as new tools, platforms, and possibilities emerge constantly. Those who can adapt and expand their skill sets will find many opportunities opening up.

For me, lifelong learning is not just an accelerator, it’s what makes this career adventure so endlessly interesting. I’m excited to see where my continuous quest for new skills and perspectives might lead next.

What I enjoy most about my current role is the feeling that I’m contributing to meaningful progress in an increasingly important domain. I’ve always been fascinated by how technology changes our lives and influences peoples’ behaviour.

In my work, we bring ICT decision makers together to learn from each other. I get to see firsthand how tools and platforms can make a positive difference for all organisations.

I feel lucky to have found a career where I can apply my skills to benefit others while growing alongside tech’s never-ending changes. The work always feels meaningful..

The golden piece of advice I would give to young women starting in technology is to embrace the opportunities that scare you a little. Don’t be afraid to jump into challenges or experiences that feel intimidating at first.

It’s easy to hesitate when something feels uncertain. But technology moves so rapidly precisely because pioneers aren’t afraid to leap before fully knowing what’s on the other side. You have so much incredible potential to contribute. Don’t hold yourself back from showing the world what you can do.

My natural leadership style is one of transformational leadership. I find motivating and engaging teams most effective by inspiring them with a compelling vision and mission. My goal is to develop individuals to their fullest potential so they can then contribute meaningfully to shared objectives.

Some key aspects of my approach include empowering others with autonomy and responsibility. I strive to listen to diverse viewpoints, provide mentorship, and acknowledge good work publicly. Challenging assumptions in constructive ways helps teams grow beyond what they thought possible.

One of the supporting skills that has helped me the most as a leader is my ability to flex based on circumstances. No two challenges or teams are exactly alike, so being adaptable has been invaluable.

At different companies, cultural nuances necessitated modifying my decision-making or delegation tendencies. Whether collaborating by consensus or making swift calls, reading the room helps me choose.

Flexibility even extends to my own needs. Juggling multiple roles once required me to streamline tasks.

In the past, I made a mistake by not listening well enough to the expectations of customers.

Ensuring excellent customer experiences is a top priority, so our approach is to be very reachable for questions or demands.

Keeping customers – our members - on top of our minds ultimately helps us deliver the best service.

When making decisions, I look at different factors and perspectives. Experience is helpful, but each situation is also unique.

I gather relevant information from others and data. I think through priorities and alternatives. Experience guides me, but I'm open to new ideas, too.

At the end of the day, I aim for choices that consider what's practical along with our goals. Being pragmatic is key to me. The process helps me think it through properly. I'm always working to improve my ability to make good calls.

As with any career path, various factors can undoubtedly influence and shape one's experience. Over the years, I've focused on doing good work and developing strong professional relationships.

Absolutely! For young people exploring potential careers, technology offers many engaging opportunities. As with any industry, there are also challenges to consider.

On the positive side, technology jobs span a huge range of roles involving creativity, problem-solving, and continuous learning. The decision ultimately depends on one's unique strengths, goals, and circumstances. For the right person, technology could prove very rewarding. Knowledge and exploring options are also key to discerning the best path forward.

Our business leverages several key technologies to enable our operations. We employ a technology strategy aimed at delivering value to customers through an optimal digital solution while enabling productive, informed operations across the organisation. Innovation continues as new opportunities arise.

Technology covers a broad range of tools and applications. For businesses, it can provide a means to help accomplish various tasks. How much technology is leveraged depends on each organisation's unique needs and goals. Overall, its role continues to evolve alongside changes in our world.

The future of technology looks very promising, but also raises challenges we'll need to address. Advances like AI, robotics, IoT, and biotech will transform many industries by automating routine tasks and enabling new, innovative services and products.

However, managing this innovation will be key. Companies will need to reskill workers and closely consider regulations to ensure technology's safe development and adoption. The pace of innovation will only accelerate, so flexibility and a customer-focused mindset will be paramount for business success in the coming years.

In my opinion, 5G is the greatest technological invention because it will serve as the infrastructure for the next generation of innovations. It has the potential to massively improve network speeds and reduce latency.

By providing the high-capacity connectivity needed for data-heavy applications, 5G will pave the way for future technologies to reach their full potential at a previously impossible scale.

This is a complex issue with reasonable arguments on both sides. Technology does present some risks if misused, such as potential distractions, negative social comparisons, or environmental impacts. However, I believe technology has significantly more potential for good.

Access to information has led to improvements in healthcare, education, and scientific and economic development that have greatly benefited society. Communication technologies have also significantly evolved to help people connect in meaningful ways. New solutions are addressing global issues like poverty, disease, and sustainability.

While problems like cyberbullying, fake news, and deepfakes must be addressed, overall, technology empowers humanity. Complete removal would likely significantly reduce living standards, education, and innovation.

While continuous improvement is needed, technology in the right framework seems a net positive for civilisation when judged on its vast accessibility of information, increased productivity, and capacity to solve complex problems. A balanced approach is wisest.

As technology constantly advances, keeping skills up to date requires ongoing effort. Between work, family, and other responsibilities, making time for self-directed learning can be difficult.

It's challenging to stay on top of new developments, but investing regularly in my learning is important for maintaining relevant expertise.

Two key online tools I rely on are OneNote and Outlook Tasks. OneNote allows me to take notes digitally across all devices and easily organise my work into centralised notebooks. This helps me stay on top of research, tasks, and projects.

Within OneNote, I keep detailed outlines, document feedback, and brainstorm ideas. Outlook Tasks syncs with OneNote so I can quickly add assignment due dates, set reminders, and view my to-do list. These tools help me effectively manage my workload, prioritise my time, and limit procrastination.

Research sites like Gartner and McKinsey provide overview reports on emerging trends. Their analysis gives a balanced perspective on where certain areas may be heading.

Some news sites also cover new products, companies, and innovations in concise summaries. This exposes me to a wide range of topics and ideas occurring in tech.

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems are my favourite technology products. When properly implemented, a CRM tool can be indispensable for tracking organisational interactions, automating workflows, and gaining valuable customer insights. CRM has the potential to positively impact many aspects of business operations if populated with high-quality, relevant data.

My least favourite are products that prioritise superficial features over meaningful functionality. In general, I appreciate solutions designed from the perspective of authentically helping organisations or individuals through well-implemented essential capabilities rather than superficial attributes alone.

When it comes to balance priorities, effective communication is key. I strive to clearly understand the perspectives and objectives of all stakeholders through active listening. At the same time, I provide factual information to help stakeholders make fully informed decisions.

Compromise may be needed when viewpoints differ. Our goal should be finding cooperative solutions where we achieve progress on shared aims, even if all wishes cannot be satisfied. With open discussion and a problem-solving approach, rapport can be built and priorities aligned wherever feasible.

Personality, background, and experience. Each person's personality traits, background, and unique life experiences together make them uniquely different from anyone else.

A person's background, such as their family, culture, and upbringing, provides an initial context that interacts with their experiences over time to shape a singular identity and perspective.

It is the interplay between inherent qualities, background, and accumulated learning through diverse experiences that craft each human as a sole one-of-a-kind individual.

No, I don't believe success can compensate for a lack of values or morality. While success might be defined purely financially or outcome-based, it does not absolve someone of how they achieved it. Lasting success requires maintaining principles that are respectful and beneficial to others.

Short-term gains through harmful, dishonest, or indecent behaviour may result in superficially defined "success," but often do not endure and often incur hidden costs. True, deep success should be built on a foundation of integrity, trustworthiness, and ethics — conducting business or interactions in a way that considers people and society.