By June
Campbell
Computer Player! December 1997
Retyped 1998
What do you do when you have three diverse skill sets and want to find a
career that lets you use them all? For Anne Coulombe of SciPlan Systems Inc., the answer
was to become a consultant, helping businesses grow through the use of technology.
"It takes three distinct skills to successfully manage a business
in the ‘90s: business acumen, marketing know-how, and an understanding of the use of
technology," says Coulombe, "and that combination is rarely found in one
person."
Originally from Ottawa and Quebec City, she obtained a bachelor of arts
degree in industrial relations from Laval University in 1985. Next came a degree in
computer science from University of Quebec at Trois Rivières in 1987, followed by a
masters of business administration in technology engineering management from City
University in Seattle in 1995.
In Vancouver, Coulombe worked for Consumer Software Inc. until it was
bought by Microsoft. She remained with Microsoft as a program manager, rotating between
hard core technology (building email gateways), and the marketing specialization.After
several years, Coulombe moved to Electronic Arts Canada as director of technology, where
she wanted to link online interactive entertainment with the communication infrastructure,
a procedure that had not yet been implemented by Microsoft.
As director of technology, Coulombe was one of only four women in North
America to reach that level in a company. In 1995, self-employment beckoned. |
Coulombe took some time out to
talk about her varied high-technology career path with Computer Player!
Contributor, June Campbell. Computer Player!: What
made you focus on technology?
Anne Coulombe: I was working in HR [human resources] for the
provincial government of Quebec in 1985 when I asked myself what would influence companies
the most over the next 10 years. The answer was computers.
CP!: Did you have a computer background?
AC: Minimal. I had never programmed. But I did surprisingly well
after being told by the dean that I was going to flunk because I didn’t have the
prerequisites (math), and that women didn’t do this sort of thing. I finished near
the top of my class and went into the industry full time. I’ve been working in a male
dominated universe for a long time.
CP!: What’s your business focus now?
AC: I’m focusing on a newly emerging industry: agricultural
use of technology. That covers everything from control systems to running business more
efficiently to figuring out the real cost of doing business. It includes Web sites and
email and production tools, and linking all that together effectively. Not all
agriculturists and horticulturists are ready to use technology. My goal is to bring the
whole industry up to speed with tools that are being used elsewhere. It’s very
important that they use technology as a tool, not as a toy. I never suggest that they
overbuy.
CP!: Who are your clients?
AC: Two that come to mind are Brookside Orchid Garden in Langley
and the United Flowers Growers Cooperative (UFG) in Burnaby. With Brookside Orchid Garden,
I helped them use technology to figure out the cost of doing business, to track production
data, and to market their products to international buyers. |
With UFG, I’m the project
manager for the technology component of a large expansion that is underway. UFG is the
industry auction market place for growers and buyers of potted and cut flowers. They gross
over $40 million a year; it’s the largest Dutch-clock style auction outside of
Holland. Branching out
CP!: What other types of services do you provide?
AC: Another facet of my business is grant application and
SR&SED (scientific research and engineering development). I help clients with federal
tax credits and with the maximization of grant applications.
CP!: Where is technology heading?
AC: People aren’t exploiting technology to meet their needs.
Technology has to remember that the user is king. Unless we make the user interface easy
to use, people won’t want it. Technology developers must give the users what they
need and want.
CP!: Why did you relocate to B.C.? Was it because of the
thriving technology industry here?
AC: It was for the good skiing. But I stayed because of the
technology, and because I can effectively work to almost any time-zone from Vancouver by
getting up early or staying up a bit later.
CP!: What would you tell young people?
AC: That it’s hard work, but extremely rewarding. We’re
molding an industry right now. |
