Embracing the digital world

Technology can be a fast-paced environment, but Tauranga woman Clare Swallow says the digital world is nothing to be afraid of.

The 31-year-old's positive approach to the technological age has earned her one of 10 spots in the Westpac Millennial Women of Influence Awards.


Clare Swallow is the only Tauranga finalist in the Westpac Millennial Women of Influence Awards.

She is the sole Tauranga finalist competing for an exclusive session with three of New Zealand's most influential business women – Kathryn Wilson, Diane Foreman and Sinead Boucher.

Clare is the general manager of the digital team at digital agency Cucumber, heading a team of 22 strategists, designers, developers, project managers and marketers.

She hopes to see more young women enter the technology industry and is encouraging businesses to embrace the technological age.

'I think in New Zealand we're still not where we need to be from a digital perspective and I think that's a result of the pathway into digital as a career. But younger people don't necessarily see what that career could look like.

'Businesses aren't seeing the benefits of the digital channel yet. I think we're getting there but I think businesses are still quite fearful of what that channel can look like and don't see how that can actually translate into tangible business value.”

Clare believes this is because of the traditional approach to education systems that isn't technology-focused.

'You've got marketing managers these days in their 40s or early 50s who haven't grown up in a digital environment, so it's new to them and there's a bit of fear there as well,” says Clare.

'From a young person perspective, we'll all stop calling this the digital world soon and it will just be the world we live in.

'For businesses, digital will become the channel to market and the majority of your client direction will be done with digital means.”

She hopes this is where New Zealand will be in five years' time.

'There's absolutely still a place for face to face contact and personal connections, digital supports that it doesn't take away from that. But it's nothing to be afraid of.

'Tauranga is definitely further along the digital track than we were. I'm really excited about what Tauranga's up to going forward.”

The Westpac Millennial Women of Influence Awards is giving five entrepreneurial, ambitious and social media savvy women, aged 25-35, an exclusive session with three of New Zealand's most influential business women – Kathryn Wilson, Diane Foreman and Sinead Boucher.

Westpac selected the top 10 and the top five will be selected by public vote, with the winners announced on September 24.

Clare is hoping Tauranga residents will get behind her and vote. For more details on all finalists and how to vote, click here.

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1 comment

Yep well done!!!

Posted on 18-09-2014 18:23 | By Sambo Returns

but will be able to protect me from Dotcom?.


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