On the lighter side of things, we ask Sandra Maura, CEO of Topmind Brazil, what makes her tick.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
In my life I had several memorable achievements. Among the main ones is the creation of my own company 18 years ago, when women were still taking risks in the IT market. Topmind was created to show that technology is an important means to enable true business strategies for the most varied segments.
Over these years, we have shown significant growth, expanded internationally to other countries in Latin America and the United States and helped several companies to go digital.
What made you think of a career in technology first?
I started my IT career in my youth at 17 years old. I fell in love with technology then and there and built my career in this area. I sought more knowledge and took computer science at college and several other courses. I worked in all IT areas of this company, from systems development, infrastructure, support and telecom. I’d never leave the technology market.
What style of management philosophy do you employ in your current position?
I employ a management philosophy based on participative leadership, valuing the participation and opinion of employees and teams for the development of strategies and decision-making, always encouraging proactivity and dialogue.
What do you think is the current hot technology topic of conversation?
There has never been so much talk about digital maturation as today. Especially driven by the pandemic, companies realized that they need to reach greater digital maturity in order to remain competitive in the market.
For this, they must heavily invest in Big Data and Machine Learning, which are other topics that are widely debated in conversations about technology and that are transforming business, bringing innovations that the market did not think were possible before.
How do you deal with stress and relax outside of the office?
I love fishing, playing cards and traveling with my family. I also recently acquired a new hobby: making craft beer.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything. I believe that, even in the most difficult and challenging moments, I’ve learned important lessons. I started working very early in IT and in large companies that helped me build a very successful career. 18 years ago, I became an entrepreneur with my company, Topmind, which serves large clients through long-lasting partnerships thanks to the trust I gained, along with my team, in the market.
What do you currently identify as the main investment areas in your industry?
Companies are more prepared to invest in innovative technologies such as Big Data and Neuroscience projects supported by Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies.
What are the specific challenges of the region when implementing new technologies in Latin America?
Latin America is very favorable to investment in technologies. But we still have little input in research and development for technologies that are more adapted to our market. This is an important challenge that can be addressed through more partnerships.
What changes have you seen in your job role in the last year and how do you think they will develop in the next 12 months?
The quest to provide an efficient customer journey, through technological services and solutions, has greatly increased, as the relationship between people and companies and consumption has also changed.
The world has become even more digital, demanding that the customer’s journey be of excellence through whatever channel he chooses to interact with companies. The trend is for this to continue more and more in the coming years.
What advice would you give someone aspiring to a C-level position in your industry?
It is very important that people prepare themselves to reach this position, considering technical and behavioral aspects. It is also essential that they learn from the challenges on this journey. Each new experience will help to gain more security for the decision-making necessary for the business.
Sandra Maura is CEO of Topmind Brazil, one of the country’s leading technology solutions companies. The company has a broad portfolio of IT services, serving large companies and various segments on a daily basis. Topmind has a team of more than 650 employees committed to bringing efficiency to its customers’ IT and Digital Transformation journey.
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