Banking on ambition (interview with Jacqueline Guichelaar about her career in IT and her efforts to improve her skills)

Banking on ambition (interview with Jacqueline Guichelaar about her career in IT and her efforts to improve her skills)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Development and Learning in Organizations, Volume 23, Issue 2

Bartram P., Guichelaar J. Computer Weekly, 23-29 September 2008, Start page: 20, No. of pages: 2

Purpose – To report an interview with Jacqueline Guichelaar, chief technology officer of enterprise services (the investment bank arm) for Deutsche Bank UK, on how she developed her career in managing IT through enthusiasm and a deep focus on learning. Design/methodology/approach – The account traces Guichelaar’s career development path which is characterized by a profound recognition of the value and importance of learning and continuing education. Findings – The account, which is set out in such a way as to provide guidance to other women who are hoping to make a career in IT, stresses the fact that Guichelaar occupied her spare time when working on night shifts by improving her skills and she attended approximately 50 training courses while she was working at IBM. Concludes that the fact that she has returned to a company where she worked previously illustrates an important lesson in not “burning bridges” during a career. Originality/value – Offers advice and encouragement to IT professionals, particularly women, on using learning and skills improvement to advance their careers in IT.ISSN: 0010-4787Reference: 37AX542

Keywords: Banks, Career development, Communications technology, Lifelong learning, Training, United Kingdom