Cover Story: Interview with Lillian Barnard

THRIVING WITH PASSION, COMPASSION, HUMOUR AND STYLE: LILLIAN BARNARD, CEO AT MICROSOFT SOUTH AFRICA

BY FIONA WAKELIN

Thanks to the foundation provided by her parents, from the age of 12 Lillian Barnard was very clear about the value of education –, particularly Mathematics. What was also clear to her was that there was no doubt that she was going to go to university and pursue a degree in Commerce - which given the era in which she grew up, was the exception rather than the rule.

Lillian now has more than 25 years’ experience in the ICT industry and through the various leadership positions held, both locally and abroad, she has a broad spectrum of experience in operations, business controls, sales, strategy, business transformation and leadership.

Her career started at IBM as part of their graduate recruitment programme and for 15 years she held several key leadership positions, including working for 7-years at the IBM European Headquarters, in France and Switzerland.

Then, sparked by her entrepreneurial spirit, she started LillianB Consulting Services, where she was an advisor and coach to business leaders. Prior to joining Microsoft, she served as Chief Sales Officer for Vodacom’s Enterprise Business for two years. And in May 2017, Lillian joined Microsoft as Public Sector Director.

Just two years later in March 2019, she was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft South Africa. Lillian currently also sits on the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa and the Gauteng Provincial Government 4IR Commission – as well as being Advisory Board Member of the Institute for Intelligent Systems at the University of Johannesburg.

WHAT IS YOUR “WHY” – WHAT DRIVES YOU?

I am passionate about driving results lead at IBM at the age of 28 - the through people – developing their gifts youngest and first black person and talents, enabling them to become to be appointed to this role. This the best versions of themselves. In the opportunity set the trajectory for workplace, I see myself as the Chief her career, laying the foundation for People Officer first – and with this her leadership journey - which was comes that responsibility to create a compounded by being selected by culture that enables people to bring IBM for the international /European their authentic selves to the workplace assignment. and be embraced for that individuality – and truly enable a diverse and Another key milestone was starting an inclusive workplace.

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