Technology should sustain progress, not just spark it, says this expert

Kerry-Anne Pollock discusses the skills needed to empower transformation and how tech is a vehicle through which consistent improvement is possible.

For Kerry-Anne Pollock, a co-founder and the chief digital information officer at IT services and consulting company Wolf and Oak, technology has always been a part of her everyday life. 

At the young age of 10, while growing up in Dubai, where her mother was stationed as a director for multinational technology firm IBM, she was given her first Mac computer and became, in her own words, “instantly hooked”.

“At school in Dubai, computer studies gave me a strong foundation,” she told SiliconRepublic.com. “A career guidance teacher once said, ‘If you’re not sure what to do, go into IT’ – the rest is history.

“I started in tech support in insurance, drawn to the challenge of fixing machines. That curiosity led to infrastructure and networking, but the real turning point was P2V migration. Transforming physical machines into virtual ones without touching a cable felt like magic. That’s when I knew I was in it for the power of transformation.”

Keep the fire burning

In her role at Wolf and Oak, where she oversees digital transformation portfolios across the construction, regulatory and public services sectors, she is currently working with a leading Irish industry regulator, as they work to develop a national digital strategy. 

Additionally, she also acts as a fractional CIO for a number of construction companies, helping them to build and define their transformation roadmaps. The real potential of which she explained is, “Turning digital chaos into strategic clarity”.

This is achieved “by simplifying everything down to goals, governance and alignment. Then we connect people, processes and platforms. I focus on culture, mentoring internal teams, supporting leadership and making transformation feel achievable”.

All of this is to say that, for Pollock, a transformation and a commitment to a digital strategy is never just about the technology that empowers it. Rather, it is an exploration of an organisation’s purpose, the progress it can make and the ingenuity and potential of its people. 

“Whether building digital strategies or rescuing animals, the mission is the same, create systems that protect, empower and endure. Amazon and Netflix didn’t innovate just once. They evolve constantly. That’s the edge, using tech to sustain progress, not just spark it.”

Essentially, while the strength and power gained from mass transformation can literally alter a company and its standing in a competitive space, for Pollock, it isn’t strength or intelligence that brings longevity, but rather the one who survives the longest is the one most amenable to change.

One eye on the future

With that in mind, she is excited by a number of trends and patterns emerging, particularly in the construction and public service sectors. For example, she believes that as artificial intelligence (AI) continues its shift from hype to utility, the conversation around governance and compliance will increase in importance. 

“Automating reporting, detecting risks early and enabling traceable, data-driven decision-making is improving productivity and being seen more as an enabler than something to be wary of,” said Pollock.

Furthermore, construction tech evolution such as building information modelling, critical data elements and customer relationship management are no longer an aspiration. Rather they are becoming a part of the organisational fabric and critical to workplace delivery models. 

Lastly, sustainable transformation and ESG goals are also becoming better integrated into organisational operations, with technology now central to achieving transparency and compliance. 

She explained that while change resistance, internal politics and slow processes have the potential to limit opportunities, for professionals looking to build a career defined by the merging of technology and transformation, people should be curious, bold and never “wait to feel ready”. 

“Some of my biggest steps forward came when I didn’t have all the answers but moved anyway. Use tech as a means, not an end. Focus on impact, value and asking the right questions. Understand the business, stay sharp and know your voice matters.”

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