Pursuing Digital Leadership: Q&A with Anique Smeets-Maas, Industry Development Manager TMT at Deloitte

We are honoured to be sharing a series of stories from our inspirational RightBrains community! Anique Smeets-Maas , Industry Development Manager TMT at Deloitte recently shared a snapshot of her career journey to date, digital aspirations and how the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme enriched her career.

-        Can you tell us a little bit about your current role?

As TMT Industry Development Manager, I am responsible for executing Deloitte Netherlands’s strategy towards our Technology, Media & Entertainment and Telecom (TMT) clients. This entails both the definition of the strategy as well as setting the targets to measure our performance, in very close alignment with our advisory leaders and the teams actually providing our services to our clients. In my day-to-day activities I monitor our financial performance, work with our digital marketing team to position Deloitte as the strategic business partner of choice for the TMT clients, and set up programs to keep developing the TMT industry knowledge of our people. I act as a “spider in the web”, connecting all Deloitte dots and facilitating bringing the best of Deloitte to our TMT clients.

-               Have you always wanted to be in digital technology? What attracted you to the field?

Actually, I studied business economics, in principle to become accountant. Already during my studies, I realised that this was not meant to be for me. Therefore, after graduating, I joined Deloitte as a business consultant and during my first client projects, I got involved in the business side of technology implementations. First I was involved in defining the business processes to be automated/supported by systems, developed solution trainings, and soon I got involved in the configuration and development of the solutions, including coding specific functionality not available out of the box. Having that experience I gradually moved into managing the implementation projects, instead of doing the complex nitty-gritty work. I really enjoyed being able to create a solution fit for the purpose for the client, and actually delivering a solution that adds value to the client organisation upon go-live.

-         What is your career goal? What do you hope to achieve?

In the future, I want to stay connected to the latest digital technology developments and use the technologies available to optimise the efficiency in my day-to-day work. Next to that, I want to be a pioneer in applying these technologies in relation to business development and marketing. Digital technology provides ample opportunities and will keep influencing our day-to-day lives more and more. Let’s use these developments well, and to our advantage! 

-          How has the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme enriched your career?

Having been an IT Consultant, and now active in the TMT industry, the Digital Leadership Programme brought me some aha-moments (e.g. around why large tech implementations tend to fail), as well as new insights, mainly into the unconscious bias that is still out there, leading to less women than men active in digital technology. I was stunned by the impact of it, and determined to try and be more conscious about this. The networking aspect with like-minded women also working in digital tech roles is really an added value, learning from them and working with them on assignments during the programme.

-        Why would you recommend the Digital Leadership Programme to others?

It provides a great network, and provides you tools to develop yourself in your role. A broad range of topics are discussed (from the latest technologies, and their (cyber) security impact, to diversity & inclusion, ways to design and manage technology-based solutions, as well as change management around digital technology, and not to forget the coding experience). Your toolset in being a leader in today’s digital world is enriched with the latest and greatest that will help you to be or become a great digital leader.

-         Why do you think communities with like-minded women like RightBrains are important?

Communities like RightBrains provide the opportunity to inspire each other in advancing your career in digital technology, and to share real-life experiences with each other. Be connected to peers in similar situations as yourself. This way you can learn from others how to cope with situations you may encounter and also discover new opportunities to develop yourself. 

-         What is your advice to women who are unsure of where to start their digital leadership journey?

Start small, and gradually grow into it -- don’t think you have to be a manager of large teams and/or departments from day one to be a digital leader. Find the digital technology area you like, what makes you tick, what really energises you, and gradually grow into being a leader in this area within your current organisation, or beyond!

 Join RightBrains today to connect with other like-minded women in digital technology.