Wellington-raised and educated at Victoria University, Geraldine McBride was appointed president of SAP (Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing) in April, returning after two years as vice-president and global head of applications and business process outsourcing services at Dell. Before this, she spent 16 years with SAP.
She explained SAP's business applications could be used to gather a customer's specific data in order to sell goods or services specific to a consumer, such as correctly sized jeans.
SAP had broken down the traditional supply chain to allow consumers to communicate directly with company directors, she said.
Technology and businesses continuously change.
"What we are seeing in technology today is we are going back to simple icons and simple media ... technology is moving away from bits and bites."
Companies had "perfected the art of mass production" and the growth of "intelligent data" would account for less waste, as Ms McBride believed consumers would pay more for a "better [buying] experience".
This was despite people "jealously guarding their data at the moment".
"The balance of information is actually in the hands of the consumer ... you may know more about that product or the service than the guy or gal who is trying to sell it to you."
Ms McBride credits her biological science roots to her acute understanding of businesses.
Having graduated with a zoology degree from Victoria University in 1985, she said businesses were often mirrored on nature's designs and businesspeople often talked about a company's eco-system and DNA.
"I see patterns in business and patterns in nature."
She also credited part of her success to her New Zealand upbringing, and said the country produced "disobedient thinkers" because of its isolation.
"New Zealand has embraced technology because of how isolated the country is," she said. The growth of technology meant she also viewed the United States as "another giant island".
"Technology is shrinking the world and making it possible ...to set up businesses and operate them globally."
Ms McBride and her husband own 1400ha near Glenorchy Rd, a place she can now work from.
"In Queenstown, I think 10 years ago there was no way I would be even contemplating running businesses from here to the rest of the world," said Ms McBride, who is based in the United States.
"I'm running conference calls from here ... I was running my global business from here."
