Kim Sim CIO, Mr Price Group (MRPG)

A team builder through and through, Kim Sim, Mr Price Group’s (MRPG) CIO, has an open and transparent approach to involving her teams with the different levels of strategy development and execution. With a career grounded in retail, she is well versed in this industry when it comes to business processes, systems integration and digital innovation, including ecommerce and mobile apps. Sim applies this expertise to her role in MRPG, a cash-based, omni-channel fashion and home goods retailer.

Sim relishes transformational ICT projects. She has created a work environment that encourages her team to embrace and explore new concepts and technologies to help preserve the group’s competitive advantage across its diverse market offerings, while keeping an eye on the strategic framework.

Says Sim: “Aligning business expectations with technology complexity in a way that allows the group to maintain a value-based cost model and deliver in agile timeframes is central to our strategy, as is running parallel streams of modernising core solutions and taking advantage of innovative opportunities.

“With our infrastructure largely evolved, the technology strategy continues to focus on our application landscape, moving from legacy systems, enabling enhanced, secure, modern, well-defined and architected application solutions, and enabling the use of AI and machine learning across the landscape.

AI will exploit the value of big data, helping us offer predictive insights for faster, data-led decision-making. “We usually look at a cloud-based solution that meets our functional needs, but this must align to our preferred architecture with security-first design principles, ensuring the agreed benefits of any technology investment are realised as quickly as possible.”

“Cybersecurity is an ongoing challenge and one we place emphasis on addressing, needing to stay ahead of the new and emerging threats and threat actor tactics,” says Sim. “We have robust security barriers, as well as awareness and training programmes and communication channels in place as part of our cybersecurity strategy.

“Peoples’ general lack of understanding of the impact a breach can have, across all industries and areas of their life, keeps me awake at night. Also keeping me awake are businesses not paying attention to the need to become tech-led, thus threatening their value in the supply chain.

MTN is MRPG’s primary network provider and both organisations have travelled and worked through a challenging journey, learned lessons together and matured to the point where MRPG is content with service levels.

“People are our competitive advantage and our team culture is our secret sauce. We support and encourage development through multiple channels, also offering flexibility, benefits and holistic lifestyle support tools to enable our associates to manage their mental, physical and financial health effectively. My passion for people development gets me up in the morning.

“While we’ve seen the industry becoming more proactive in its employment of women in ICT, there is still more that can be done. MRPG is proactive in its investment in women, harnessing the particular attributes women have and maximising the way women can bring unique qualities to the table, to the benefit of the organisation.

“My advice to women considering STEM careers is to not allow self-doubt to stop you from speaking up and adding value. Women are more than capable of excelling in ICT, bringing our passion and inspiring others. Demonstrate your passion and don’t be afraid to share your opinions and follow these through with tangible actions. You will soon realise the respect and support of your peers and superiors,” concludes Sim.

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