Content creator

Zoe Hawkins

Nov 24, 2014 in Content creator, Profiles

Zoe Hawkins, Lazygamer.net

Name: Zoe Hawkins

Designation: Content Editor and PR Manager

What do you do every day? Wow, each day is so varied and different. Most days start with me writing at least 3-4 articles. As a video game and tech journalist, this means reporting on new game releases, controversies, gameplay or features. This can include game reviews and editorials, as well as tech reviews and videos showing off the latest gadgets. Interspersed between the writing is plenty of witty banter with the guys I work with as we fight for the good stories and make fun of each other’s meekness.

As I write, I often edit the others’ work as well as attend to all the PR emails. I generally try to schedule meetings in the late morning or early afternoon, once things have calmed down in the mad rush to get content up for the site.

Work can often continue late into the evenings, especially when I have a game to review and need to spend my entire evening playing. However, considering that’s how I enjoy spending my evenings, it’s rather difficult to complain. Evenings are sometimes also taken up with tech events and launches, giving me the opportunity to actually get dressed in something other than slippers and comfy pants as I venture into outside world.

How did you get into the tech space? I’ve been a gamer since I was a child but never thought it could be a career. After getting a Masters in European Studies and International Relations, I moved with my future husband to South Africa. After bouncing between teaching, PR and Marketing positions, I finally ended up as a freelance social media marketer and blogger. When I saw a chance to work at lazygamer as a part-time writer, I jumped at the chance – the rest is history.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? Figure out what makes you happy and do that – the rest will fall into place.

What advice would you given someone wanting to get into the tech sector? Be confident with what you know, and honest about what you don’t. Anything can be learned once you know your starting point.

What motivates you to get out of bed everyday? A passion for what I do. And two cats and a husband who poke me until I get up to make coffee and food.

Who do you want to be when you grow up? An even more successful version of myself – love what I do, just want to do it better and for even more readers/viewers.

Find me on:
Twitter: @moonstormer
Web: www.lazygamer.net
Web: www.lazygamer.net/author/moonstormer
LinkedIn: za.linkedin.com/in/moonstormer

Lise Hagen

Sep 8, 2014 in Content creator, Enterprise, Profiles

Lise Hagen, IDC

Name: Lise Hagen

Designation: Research Manager Software and IT Services Africa

Company: IDC (International Data Corporation)

What do you do every day? This role is both bewildering and exciting, often in the same hour. Days are fast-paced, demanding, with long hours. My tasks can include back-to-back interviews with vendors and clients, and then switch to a strategy presentation for executive teams.

When I’m working on a consulting project, especially if it is based here in South Africa, it includes a lot of client-facing meetings, project management, weekly updates, and keeping a very close pulse on the engagement’s progress. I have the privilege to be invited to do technology and market trend presentations in South Africa and across Africa on a regular basis, and my mantra is preparation, preparation, preparation. This includes both researching content, creating compelling presentations, and practicing the delivery – all of which can take up a lot of time.

The part that I relish the most is the writing. Lots and lots of writing: Reports; Return on Investment analysis; Whitepapers; Articles. However, the accompanying dreaded and dratted deadlines truly are the bane of my existence.

How did you get into the tech space? Since I have two MA’s in Social Sciences, I ask myself, and get asked, this question on a regular basis. Technology is a tool, and it would be remiss not to acknowledge and investigate the impact that this tool has on our lives – whether it is as a consumer, as a professional or as a human. My tech and teleco roles utilised and developed my analytical outlook and ability to disseminate complex content in a clear and concise manner. And gadgets. I love gadgets.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? Best? Dunno. Most impactful? Regret the things that you’ve done rather than the things you haven’t done.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the tech sector? In my opinion there is no right or wrong discipline to follow in order to work in the tech sector. For specialised programming – sure, have the skills and qualification, if so required. But I hire for both aptitude and attitude: curiosity, an analytical approach, a process focus. Also: always keep abreast of technological developments across various disciplines. Ours is a world hurtling towards convergence, and you need to know what the dots could be before connecting them.

What motivates you to get out of bed every day? I have to admit that the act of just getting out of bed sometimes amounts to a Herculean task, but sheer will (especially at 4:30M in winter!) gets me up early to do some writing on my novel.

Who do you want to be when you grow up? Being grown up is vastly overrated, although it has its perks, like being able to have a tube of Pringles for dinner. As for who? I’m me – but I’d like to be a me who is a full-time time novelist.

Find me on:
Twitter: @gadget_hagen

Tiana Cline

Aug 13, 2014 in Content creator, Profiles

Tiana Cline, Hypertext Media

Name: Tiana Cline

Designation: Editor of Tarsus Channel, Managing Editor of htxt.africa and Tech Made Easy, and tech consultant to Women & Home South Africa.

Company: Hypertext Media

What do you do every day? I manage the overall production flow of all of our publications – both print and digital – to ensure that we meet our deadlines and produce top-notch content that people actually want to read on a daily basis. There’s also a lot of research, tweaking, brainstorming, editing, gadgets, gaming and digital stuff that happens along the way…

How did you get into the tech space? I’ve always been passionate about technology, but I actually started my publishing career in fashion at ELLE South Africa when it was still under the reins of Nadine Rubin. One of my (many) duties was to review books and movies for the magazine.

During a press screening I was chatting to a well-known entertainment journalist who asked me what I wanted to do for a living. My response? Play video games. At this point I was in the middle of my second honours thesis as well, and he would often give me research advice. He kindly introduced me to a writer at a student magazine who had a page on gaming and said I could take it over.

The very next day I was driving over to pick up the office PlayStation 2! When my time at ELLE came to an end, my next step was to write for a business-technology magazine – mainly interviewing CIOs and CTOs. I ended up taking over a monthly video game publication at the age of 21 when the editor left, something I did lovingly for four years, and everything just continued to flow from there.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? No one will remember you for being nice, but they will remember you for being good at your job.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the tech sector? Learn SEO, social bookmarking – everything and anything digital that you can, while you can. Coding? Try it. Find a mentor. Make connections and network extensively to get your face out there. You could also blog about something you’re passionate about. Most importantly, don’t take your studies for granted. Do I sound like a Hallmark card for ICT here? 😉

What motivates you to get out of bed everyday? My family… and the possibility that I might be travelling somewhere exciting at some point.

Who do you want to be when you grow up? Iris Apfel… or a security analyst at Kaspersky Lab. I’m multi-faceted.

Find me on:
Twitter: @tianatweets
LinkedIn: http://za.linkedin.com/in/tianacline

Robyn Farah

Jul 25, 2014 in Content creator, Founder, Owner, Profiles

Robyn Farah – KAT-O

Name: Robyn Farah

Designation: Owner & Project Manager

Company: KAT-O (Kick Ass Technology – Obviously)

What do you do every day? I come up with awesome ways to integrate and improve tech in people’s companies/lives – from designing interactive marketing campaigns to improving/modifying client products. I organise tech talks and courses in Arduino, Raspberry Pi, electronics and code for people of all ages and backgrounds.

How did you get into the tech space? I studied composition and wanted to make the world a fun interactive audio space, so I started delving into different ways I could do this. I found my answer in electronics and programming combined with audio. 😀

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? This applies to life and work – practice delayed judgement and surround yourself with people that improve who you are.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the tech sector? Collaborate, share and go for it! The KAT-O motto – “embrace technology, it allows us to see that our only limitation is our imagination”.

What motivates you to get out of bed everyday? Wow, loads of things! I am lucky to be in a field that is developing and changing so rapidly – so waking up to discover what new discoveries/gadgets have been happening overnight in the tech world while I was asleep – that’s enough to get me to up.

Who do you want to be when you grow up? Easy – the Michel Gondry of the tech world!

Find me here:
Twitter: @RobynFarah
LinkedIn: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/robyn-farah/33/608/200
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+RobynFarah/posts
FB: https://www.facebook.com/KickAssTechObv?fref=ts

Mich Atagana

Jul 24, 2014 in Content creator, Profiles

Name: Mich Atagana

Designation: Managing Editor

Company: Memeburn/Burn Media

What do you do every day? I run a tech news publisher. I manage the core Burn Media team as well as our contributors. I am tasked with driving editorial strategy, promoting the brand as well as the production of content around tech issues and Africa’s tech ecosystem.

How did you get into the tech space? I am not sure if there was a defining moment, I have always been interested in tech and it seemed a natural fit. I never thought I would do anything other than play in the tech scene.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? One of my oldest friends once told me: “Never stop dancing in the rain, it will keep you, you.” I think about it often when I start feeling myself slip away or the things I want begin to deviate from the plan or what is right and makes me happy or the good of others.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the tech sector? If you love technology jump in with both feet and let it wash all over you.

What motivates you to get out of bed everyday? Possibility. I get to travel a lot and I am always amazed at what is happening in technology in Africa.

Who do you want to be when you grow up? I hope I never grow up. I get to play so much now. I want to play forever.

Find me on:
Blog: www.globemich.com
Twitter: @michatagana
LinkedIn: za.linkedin.com/pub/mich-atagana/2/745/33a/

Zoe Hawkins

Lise Hagen

Tiana Cline

Robyn Farah

Mich Atagana

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