speaker q&A: mercedes pantoja, head of technology & architecture - digital, latam airlines
”It is not about trusting homogeneous teams and then controlling them, it is more about proactively laying the foundations for heterogeneous teams to work well and delegating autonomy in decisions.”
MERCEDES PANTOJA, HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY & ARCHITECTURE, LATAM AIRLINES
1. What’s your biggest professional challenge been over the last 6 months?
To deal with the pandemic situation and the consequences in our industry (customer experience, staff, strategic and tactical goals, …).
2. If we think about the future of tech, what emerging technologies do you see taking the driving seat?
Migrations to Cloud will be accelerated and completed, as well as 5G. We will continue improving our big data and data analytic strategies. Then, definitely, AI and IoT as well as robotics. Finally, we will boost the implementation of contactless technologies.
3. As someone in the aerospace industry, how have you personally managed the huge impacts of the pandemic on your work?
Adapting to the new situation, on one side stopping no strictly necessary strategic initiatives, but maintaining the core ones ensuring the baseline for the digital transformation and outing focus in operational and contingency goals. On the other hand, trying to keep the teams motivated, focused, and aligned and retaining talent.
4. And finally, what is your 1 piece of advice for the tech industry in improving its diversity & inclusion?
To be more daring in decisions and get out of the comfort zone. And to bet for a new leadership style. A leader has to face the investment of time and efforts and to take care that mixed, diverse, and dispersed teams work the best and are able to unlock all their potential. It is not about trusting homogeneous teams and then controlling them, it is more about proactively laying the foundations for heterogeneous teams to work well and delegating autonomy in decisions.
You can hear more from Mercedes at the Women in IT Virtual Summit Europe on 15th September 2020. You can view the agenda and register your free place here.
