Digital challenges and opportunities for the Netherlands

Technology and digitalization play a vital role in the lives of individuals, businesses, the economy, and society as a whole. This demands effort from organizations and their leaders, along with a government that encourages new opportunities and possibilities. Nevertheless, both technology users and providers face significant challenges, such as increasing digital literacy among students, the significant shortage in the IT job market, digital resilience, requirements for the digital government, and infrastructure, etc.

Emily Glastra, Chair of NL Digital and Managing Director of T-Systems Netherlands, advocates for extensive collaboration between the digital/ICT sector, user-side organizations, and the government.

With a background in management and executive positions at IBM and Microsoft, as well as an entrepreneur, Glastra has been at the forefront of T-Systems Netherlands for the past year and a half. T-Systems is a leading partner in the fields of digitalization, cloud transformation, and managed services. “From complex IT migrations to achieving digital ambitions,” says the managing director. “Through co-creation, industry expertise, and close collaboration in partner ecosystems, we lay the foundation for many businesses.”

Additionally, she serves as the Chair of the NL Digital industry association. Representing around 650 members and thousands of industry peers, this organization advocates for the interests of the digital sector with the government, politics, and media. Through her roles and responsibilities, Emily Glastra keeps a constant eye on technologically driven developments, opportunities, and challenges for large organizations and their leaders.

During CIODAY2023, the NL Digital Chair will briefly outline the key trends in the digital landscape, both on the supply and demand sides, and then delve deeper into two prominent issues: the ongoing demand for the right talent and the business environment for technology-driven companies in the Netherlands.

Additionally, she wants to emphasize the tremendous opportunities for collaboration and the formation of ecosystems.

In her view, having the available technology alone is not enough. It’s about applying the solutions in an integrated manner to make a difference. “Without the right organizational integration, new technologies like artificial intelligence or quantum computing won’t lead to real change.” According to her, it’s also about considering the human aspects and your position in the market. It’s not about a technology push, but about making the right choices.

This also involves partnerships and co-creation: “To elevate digital innovation in the Netherlands and in Europe to a higher level, we need to do it together.”