Putting people at the heart

of digital transformation

Eva Appelbaum

@evaapp

Digital transformation – hot topic

The technology and creative opportunities are exciting…

Digital Transformation

It starts with campaigns and channels….

…. Which leads to a realisation that everything needs to change

DIGITAL Transformation

Eventually.... you get a BIG DIGITAL STRATEGY

“Data-driven”

“Customer-centered”

“Agile”

“Mobile first”

“Design thinking”

…. Only to find that leadership, culture and people challenges make it incredibly difficult to implement

What does ‘people at the heart of your digital transformation’ mean?

“We are slow in decision making...we are too consensus driven and find it hard to make decisions laden with uncertainty. We fear failure and keep on delaying decisions till we get hit in the head by our competitors. Our business processes are too slow to take advantage of any new opportunities....”

https://www.thoughtworks.com/insights/blog/unfinished-business-organizational-transformation

Organisational culture

Digital = a Human Revolution

Companies need to be prepared to change everything — how they think and how they breathe

- Philippe Trichet, digital expert director at BCG

Digital is about the culture

Digital culture

Digital Leaders & Digital leadership

Digital Leadership = All leaders!

Leadership is changing

Skills of the Modern Marketer - Econsultancy

Culture means people! Digital behaviours & mindset

• Adaptable • Open-minded • Learning, unlearning &

relearning • Experimentation • Customer obsessed • Collaborative • Accountable and bold

Many New emerging demands …

• Incentivised to collaborate?

• Safe spaces to make decisions, take risks, fail

• Always-on = overwhelmed?

• “Deep-thinking” time as well as team work

• Future skills?? Career development and planning

• Fear…. Job automation, AI

Digital transformation is change -- change is scary…

Leanchange.org

• Involve everyone!

• and build confidence

Bring people along with you…

Mindset vs. skills

• Digital mindset and behaviour does not equal digital or technology skills

• Tech skills can be taught!

What about HR? not yet at the table

Business Transformation and the role of Heads of Digital - Eduserv

digital transformation = People

Empathy is

required

….. All around!

Thank you

@evaapp