Digital transformation and the intersection of business and technology continue to be a top priority for CEOs and business leaders worldwide. The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business recognized the importance of these topics and hosted a special Tech Talks Business session for incoming M.S. and MBA students featuring Jean Marie Richardson, founder and CEO of iFOLIO, and Daniel Diaz, manager of data acquisition and OT cybersecurity at Southern Company.
“Technology is no longer part of office culture; technology dominates office culture,” said Jean Marie Richardson, CEO of iFOLIO. “Digital transformation is a $4.2 trillion market and growing. Transforming business performance across sales, marketing, and service is the most important goal for companies worldwide, according to Forbes.
Companies worldwide are moving away from outdated and fragmented systems as they digitally transform. They are looking for connected platforms that enable them to collaborate, understand their customers better, and provide value to their customers in a targeted way. It’s an exciting time.”
Identifying opportunities for transformation, building culture, and developing an adversity quotient were among the topics discussed in the exclusive session. Diaz’s work in data acquisition and cyber security at Southern Company lies in the center of digital transformation. He provided advice for students looking for roles in digital transformation. They must first establish a vision for their futures and identify companies that will get them there.
His advice for interfacing with companies and their own goals was straightforward: “First, do your research before you sit down with a company in an interview. Second, figure out what you want to get out of your career. When you say, ‘scrappy and go-getter,’ you’ve got to figure out what that means for the company and what it means to you. Lastly, there is no work-life balance. Life is like jazz. There are some parts that are slow and some that are fast.”
LeCraw Auditorium was packed with over 200 M.S. and MBA students learning from Richardson and Diaz as part of their orientation experience. They also discussed topics about the evolving business landscape, perspectives on leadership, career journeys, and the significance of resilience. Students then had an open question and answer session that was interactive, energetic and had to be cut off for time.
During this especially meaningful season in their education and career growth, Richardson and Diaz agree that it’s never too early to get involved at Scheller. They know from their own Scheller experience that connections with other students, faculty, and staff will last a lifetime.
