Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 06 | Page 101

GET TO KNOW... On the lighter side of things, we ask the industry experts what makes them tick. . . . Yoav Degani, CEO, VoiceSense What would you describe as your most memorable achievement? As a clinical psychologist, I became increasingly curious about speech. A patient could tell me they’re feeling fine, but the way they said it – intonation, pace, emphasis – signalled something entirely different. I began to question how I could leverage this knowledge and I decided to develop an AI-powered, speech-based behavioural analysis tool, linking speech patterns to customer tendencies and personal characteristics, as an accurate way to predict individuals’ behaviour. Today, years after this idea turned into commercialised products and a successful company, I still get excited and proud every time we complete another validation study, demonstrating again how we turn pure speech pattern analysis into accurate predictions of various future personal behaviours. What first made you think of a career in technology? I tend to be analytical, so attraction to exact sciences was quite natural. As an Israeli, I also served in a technological unit in the intelligence forces, so the path was already paved. However, surprisingly, my studying choice was opposite; I completed two degrees in psychology and then years of clinical practice, before eventually returning to technology. Now I’ve integrated my two www.intelligentcio.com worlds of interest using pattern analysis and signal processing for personality measurements and behavioural uses. I try to create a motivated, highly-involved and determined environment, as the enabling setting for success. What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position? What do you think will emerge as the technology trend of 2018 and why? Setting an exciting vision that people can identify with plays a major role in building motivation and atmosphere in the workplace. However, successful innovation requires years of systematic and persistent efforts. Therefore, determination and hard work are a second guiding value. Assigning the right people to the right positions is crucial, as well as providing clear leadership. There is a dramatic growing passion for Big Data analysis. Enterprises realise their core existence is at risk if they won’t be part “ I TRY TO CREATE A MOTIVATED, HIGHLY-INVOLVED AND DETERMINED ENVIRONMENT, AS THE ENABLING SETTING FOR SUCCESS. INTELLIGENTCIO 101