#005 Digital Transformation of the Electoral Process: Is it possible?
Join us in conversation with Monica Singer and Xoliswa Mahlangu.
The Grand Geeks Community is here.
In this newsletter:
> Optimizing Podcast: S2-Episode 7. In conversation with Monica Singer
> Optimizing Podcast: S2-Episode 8. In conversation with Xoliswa Mahlangu
> Opinion Piece Article: “Running Elections in the 21st Century” by Barry Dwolatzky
> Download link for the Final Report of the Presidential Commission on the 4IR
Hello there,
This is our 5th Grand Geeks Newsletter. Once again, you’ve received this newsletter either because you subscribed or because we’ve selected you to be part of this new community. We will deliver a newsletter to your inbox every fortnight. However, you are free to unsubscribe at any time.
Digital Transformation and Elections
Over the past few weeks, I’ve become a nervous wreck watching the S-L-O-W-L-Y unfolding saga of the US Presidential Elections. Voting ended on 3rd November and, as I write these words, the final certified results are still awaited. Yes, I know that Joe Biden has won and that he will be the next President, but Donald Trump and his millions of supporters are still questioning this. Why should I care? Well for one I’m interested in world politics. Secondly, as the saying goes, “when America sneezes the whole world catches cold”. And thirdly I can’t stop thinking: “Surely, in the third decade of the 21st Century, we shouldn’t have 10s of thousands of exhausted people sitting in cavernous venues all across the world’s most advanced technological country manually sorting and counting pieces of paper?”
I’ve written a short opinion piece on the topic of elections and digital transformation, or the lack thereof.
We also have two more wonderful podcast conversations for you as part of the ongoing second season of my popular “Optimizing” podcast. My co-host Kerryn Gammie has again joined me in finding out more about two really fascinating people.
Monica Singer was given the task of digitally transforming the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in the mid-90s. As CEO of STRATE she achieved this transformation, winning accolades from the World Economic Forum and from the local and international investor community. And then she discovered blockchain and realised that this was the technology that she had long been waiting for. When she failed to convince the STRATE Board that blockchain was its future, she resigned her position and has become an energetic and passionate campaigner for the adoption of blockchain technology.
The second podcast conversation is with Xoliswa Mahlangu who has been driving an innovative and exciting programme at Future Nations Schools to bring digital skills to young people. She is contributing to one of the most important tasks facing South Africa and all other countries in the world today: How do we equip the next generation with skills to play a role in the unfolding 4th Industrial Revolution?
And speaking of 4IR, the official final reports of the Presidential Commission on 4IR are now available for download. Over the next 2 weeks my fellow Grand Geek, Mark Harris, and I will publish a critique on the work of the 4IR Commission.
You will find links to these podcasts and my opinion piece on elections, together with an easy download link for the 4IR Reports, on our new content portal www.TheGrandGeeks.africa . Via this portal we will continue to share content which we either create ourselves or curate to contribute towards this important inter-generational conversation. We hope that you will engage, share and contribute.
Until next time,
Prof Barry Dwolatzky
1. S2:E7 of Optimizing Podcast – In Conversation with Monica Singer
Monica Singer qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After working for the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants and the World Bank, she became CEO of STRATE, a company set up to digitise the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JCSE). She drove this challenging project with great success. In 2015 she left STRATE to become an evangelist for Blockchain, a technology she sees as having the potential to eliminate many forms of financial corruption.
2. S2:E8 of Optimizing Podcast – In Conversation with Xoliswa Mahlangu
Xoliswa Mahlangu (“Xoli”) works as a Computing Curriculum Developer and Technology Integration Specialist at Future Nation Schools. Her personal mission is to demystify tech and make it more fun and accessible to kids of all ages. She is a Microsoft Certified Innovative Educator Expert and has represented South Africa in the international educator exchange. She was featured as Tech Magazine’s Mover and Shaker and has spoken at numerous youth and women in tech events. Xoli has an MEng in software engineering from Wits University.
The Optimizing Podcast is available on Spotify, iTune, Google Play and via all streaming Apps. It is also available on www.TheGrandGeeks.africa . For those interested in following the Optimizing podcast in the future, here is the schedule for upcoming episodes:
Episode 9: In conversation with Clifford De Wit (ex-Microsoft SA) – 17 November
Episode 10: In conversation with Nomso Kana (Entrepreneur and 4IR commissioner) – 24 November
Episode 11: In conversation with Sifiso Skenjana (Economist at IQ Business) – 31 November
Episode 12: In conversation with Tiyani Nghonyama (Co-founder of Geekculcha) – 7 December
3. Opinion Piece: “Running Elections in the 21st Century” by Barry Dwolatzky
The 2020 US Election has again raised questions about why digital transformation hasn't embraced national electoral systems. This opinion piece by Prof Barry Dwolatzky explores E-Voting and I-Voting in the 21st Century.
4. The Grand Geeks website – a portal for curated content on Leading Africa’s Digital Future
We are pleased to announce our new website at www.TheGrandGeeks.africa .While are still hard at work fine-tuning its features and its “look”, the current version will allow you to access some of our current, and recent articles, video material and – of course – the Optimizing Podcast. There is space on the website for you to comment, and we would appreciate your thoughts both on the website and on the content it features. We are hoping that this site soon becomes your go-to place for high quality content relevant to the present and future state of our local digital economy. Join the conversation, and share the link with others who are part of our special community.
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