Debi van Flymen
Director of Eviciti Univerciti
Eviciti Corp.
Debi van Flymen joined the Eviciti Corp. team in September 1999. She spearheads this e-business leader's learning initiatives enterprise wide as the Director of Eviciti Univerciti. Van Flymen creates, develops, implements and measures the effectiveness of strategic learning initiatives for Eviciti's staff, customers, partners and stakeholders. She is also developing Eviciti's premier e-business curriculum to be launched later this year.
Van Flymen began her IT career in her native South Africa, where she worked with leading organizations in the architecture, project management, development, deployment and maintenance of information technology solutions. As an entrepreneur, she launched her own consulting practice in Johannesburg. She has developed international expertise in the areas of Internet, e-business, e-commerce and on-line marketing. Van Flymen enjoys consulting at the executive level and her strategic vision and analysis have led to many successful engagements. Her international experience spans the IT, pharmaceutical, airline, banking, motor vehicle, agriculture, eco-tourism, petro-chemicals, and mining industries, amongst others.
A noted and respected industry spokeswoman, van Flymen participates as a speaker and panelist at conferences, seminars and trade-shows she has developed a reputation as an international educator, "e-business evangelist" and an advocate for women in business and technology.
Van Flymen is also the regional director for WITI in Indiana where she is in the process of launching a new WITI chapter based in Indianapolis (where she resides with her son).
1. What was your first job in technology?
2. Who has been your most significant mentor? Why?
Professionally, my dearest friend Steven Kaplan has been my most significant mentor in the last few years. He has made me realize my potential is even greater than I ever believed, and encouraged me to take the calculated, informed risks that have led me down this career path. In addition to being my devil's advocate, sounding board and business intelligence resource, he is one of my greatest cheerleaders! Steve challenges me, and makes me redefine the way I look at things - always demanding that I grow personally and professionally with each new experience. Everyone should be so lucky to have a "Steve Kaplan" in life!
And today, at Eviciti, I work with many talented women and men in technology who continue to nurture my intellect and spirit even if they are not formal Śmentors.' I am indeed privileged to have such wonderful people in my life!
3. What has been your greatest challenge and what strategies did you use to overcome obstacles?
Professionally, I think the single greatest challenge was and still is staying on top of this constantly evolving information technology market space. When the rate of change is so great, and we are limited to twenty-four hours in a day - we have to be selective and creative... I have certain content "pushed" to my email and desktop, I read several magazines regularly and I have focused on areas of key interest and importance to me - specifically e-business and learning. I also read strategic business books to keep up with industry trends and strategy. I dedicate time each day for this - I feel it gives me an edge!
4. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?
Several men and women I know have truly prospered in business - and some have not, I've learned from them all (and most of them probably don't know it). My friends and family keep teaching me the value of enjoying life, they keep my feet firmly planted on the ground and they nourish the essence of my being! And my son Ariel teaches me and influences me continuously, shaping every day...
5. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to women beginning their careers in technology?
Secondly, invest in the future - keep learning and share your knowledge with those around you. The awesome reward you'll reap from sharing your knowledge comes in many forms - the most special to me is the look on someone's face when they simply "get it." Climb the ladder of success with one arm reaching upwards and the other always lending a hand to those just below you. This propagates the cycle; it grows you and future generations.
Always ask yourself how you can do things better. This will improve your next effort. And don't be afraid to make mistakes - we all do! Just learn as much as you can from them.
Be passionate about what you do in life! Enjoy doing it! We all have ups and downs, but if you don't enjoy - and I mean really, honestly enjoy what you're doing - you need to try something else.
Lastly, ask for help. It's amazing, but you'll actually get it. Not so long ago, I thought asking for help was a sign of weakness. Today, I've learned it is one of real strength. Build your personal information network with the help of as many people as you can - in addition to helping you resolve those immediate issues, you will learn lessons in trust, judgment and how to help others yourself.
6. What new technology do you believe will have the most positive impact on the world in the next 20 years? The most negative impact?
Conversely, I think the most negative impact could be the dehumanizing aspect of our wired world. While we make it more aerodynamic and rely more frequently on computers, we seem to be forgetting the value of a handshake, a pat on the back and an old-fashioned power-lunch. Communications today aren't what they were five, ten or fifteen years ago. Rather than reading between the lines of email, there is much to be said for the tone and inflection of voice in listening between the lines and interpreting body language. We shouldn't let face-to-face encounters be replaced entirely by email, telecommuting and web-based wireless connectivity. I worry that as technology changes progress, our communication will get worse.
On a lighter note:
Living: I would select businesswoman Oprah Winfrey and former South African President, Nelson Mandela. Both have journeyed long roads and arrived at their present destinations triumphant and proud! I believe they would have valuable lessons from which I could learn and grow.
2. What was the last book you read? What books do you love to recommend?
3. If you were to choose a different profession, what would it be?
4. What is your definition of success?
I have always been fascinated by technology and even spent a childhood summer at computer camp long before technology was in vogue. My first "job," (part-time while still in high school) exposed me to emerging medical technologies in the radiology departments of several large hospitals - at a time when medical technology blossomed. It was some years later when a career shift - to a "computer consultant" -immersed me full-time in information technology. I was thrown in the deep end - first doing support and programming and then architecting solutions; everyone said I took to it like the proverbial "duck in water." It wasn't long before I decided to launch my own business and well, I suppose the rest is history.
I have been privileged through the years to be surrounded with outstanding mentors - personally and professionally. Personally, my friends and family (especially my parents) have been and continue to be, a source of inspiration, encouragement, support and love - setting wonderful examples and instilling in me a sense of what is "right." My parents taught me success and rewards result from smart, hard work. My late aunt, Leslie van Flymen, was a pioneering woman in business in South Africa and taught me I could do anything - that women could do anything - and do it with intelligence, creativity and style.
I have had several challenges that have shaped me and enabled me to grow and become the person I am today. I think personally, my biggest challenge has been re-immigrating from South Africa to America as a single parent at the end of September 1998 and leaving my family and support systems behind. It is really tough to go from being a close-knit family and having close (in some cases life-long) friendships to living oceans apart. I am so thankful - as I'm sure are many of my family and friends - for email. My eleven-year-old son and I both enjoy learning - we adapt well, but I still struggle at times to balance my work and family life sans those old support systems. I think one of the biggest strategies in overcoming this has been to join an organization like Eviciti Corp. that values the concept of a balanced and holistic life and embraces it as a culture.
There's not enough space for everyone's names...There is no single individual who has been "most" influential - everyone who has touched my life has made me who I am today... my mother, Pat, taught me the art of entertaining and how to be a lady - she's also the most creative influence in my life. My father, Geoff, shaped me into a dedicated woman with an entrepreneurial flair and strategic vision (perhaps my strongest business influence). My sister Ruth imparted the value of dance and dreaming. My grandparents gave me lots of love and happy memories. My debate coach taught me to listen, to argue, to negotiate and to project. My uncle let me know that family is always there for you, my friends that their support is constant despite geographical boundaries. My grandfather taught me to be proud and appreciate my legacy, my family to appreciate nature and "the bush," and my late grandmother showed me you could die with dignity and live on in the hearts and souls of those around you. My friend Alison taught me about gnomes and faeries, Riccie to expand my horizons, discover inner spirituality and guide me to my inner self, Ayala about multi-tasking and pushing the boundaries, and Cindy about being proud and following your heart. Steve, Jacques, Ross, Javin, Eric - they have been there for years as friends reciprocally to share celebrations, to help embrace shortcomings, to lend a hand, provide a shoulder and offer me "male" insight. There are others I don't personally know who have molded me; women like Kim Polese, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Katherine Mwanamwambu, and others have touched me with the knowledge that as individuals and as women - we can overcome - we can succeed, prosper and thrive!
I think the most valuable lesson is to believe in yourself. To develop the faith in your skills, learning abilities, and personality that makes you shine and glow. Then, reward yourself for each accomplishment no matter how small - gold stars for the daily accomplishments, scaling up to weekly, monthly or annual rewards. Appreciate the significance of each milestone you achieve - these rewards will help you remember the path to each greater achievement. Each time I look at certain mementos, I am reminded that I have walked a number of paths on the journey and although I have conquered some challenges, there are still cliffs to scale and mountains to climb.
I may change my opinion by the time you are reading this - as I mentioned, technology's rapid rate of change is mind-boggling - it could be something that hasn't been dreamt of yet. But for today, I'll group the positives together under the "e-business" umbrella. It's a large umbrella - I promise not to go on forever here. When I spoke at the WITI Dallas Summit, I asked in a session whether people's businesses could exist without email today? The answer was a unanimous, resounding no. I think we need to remind ourselves that email only went global within the last three to five years. This started a revolution, removing boundaries like time and distance from our business lives. As we make our business processes more efficient and competitive and technology drives our efforts, doing business online will become a way of life. E-business will be business as usual. The plusses will include better efficiency, time and cost-savings, improved profitability and streamlined communication and collaboration through the value-chain from concept to customer and on to customer service and retention.
1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not), who would they be?
Not living: I would choose to dine with the late Israeli Prime Minister - Golda Meir and my late aunt, Leslie van Flymen.
In addition to e-business and technology - books are another of my passions in life. I have just finished reading two very different books simultaneously - "The Ernst & Young Guide to the IPO Value Journey" authored by Stephen Blowers, Peter Griffith, and Thomas Milan and "With Roots in Heaven: One Woman's Passionate Journey into the Heart of her Faith" by Rabbi Tirzah Firestone. I recommend both highly. I love to recommend books of all flavors, shapes and sizes across all genres - I am a fervent reading advocate.
I wouldn't choose another profession today - I love what I do, I am passionate about and invigorated by e-business and the IT industry but in another lifetime, I think perhaps a nature conservationist and game ranger. My African roots no doubt...
For me, success is the achievement or attainment of one's objectives, goals and dreams. And please everyone; dream really, really big - and in color!
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