For the leader of New Zealand’s largest telecommunications company, backing out from the opportunities provided by the latest advancements in technology will put a business at risk.

Jolie Hodson, CEO of Spark New Zealand, said it is also the responsibility of businesses leaders to allow their people to adapt to the changing times and flourish.

“We’re living in a time of exponential disruption, where technology advancement is providing the opportunity for us to operate in ways we never imagined to create value,” she said.

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Hodson believes the progress that comes with all the disruptions enables people from diverse origins to deliver world-class experiences to their customers.

“Now more than ever we need to have our eyes up and out, learning as individuals and as organisations, so we can bring the best ideas to bear in New Zealand,” she stressed.

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Hodson herself comes from a diverse career background, holding executive positions in professional services, fast-moving consumer goods, digital technology, and telecommunications.

She held various executive positions at Spark New Zealand, such as Customer Director and Chief Finance Officer, before being appointed to the top position last 2019.

Hodson also led Spark Digital as its CEO, paving the way for Spark’s transformation from a legacy telecommunications company to a leader in digital services.

An innovator by nature, Hodson also seeks to change the gender dynamics in the world of business, mentoring women entrepreneurs as a member of several women organisations.

At Spark New Zealand, Hodson continues to push for gender diversity, targeting a 40:40:20 representation in the company.

“I’m proud to say that we have achieved this goal at a Board and Leadership Squad level and more recently in our wider senior leadership roles,” she said. 

“Our focus is now on lifting our organisation-wide female representation from 35% to 40%.,” added Hodson, who’s an active member of Global Women and OnBeingBold.