Tech Talk with Team DBZ
Step inside our tech minds in these bite-sized profiles, where we ask our expert team to share their takes on technology. Their answers might surprise you.
Rachel Ruiz
DBZ Business Analyst
Rachel is one of DBZ’s Specialist Business Analysts. She knows the martech rules, calling on a 12 year career, with 6 years in complex technology implementation and a particular focus on regulation & compliance.
What piece of tech excites you at the moment?
Gen AI — its usefulness as part of everyday living for a regular person. There are still pros and cons about it overall, but as it emerges, I'm watching this space.
iPhone’s digital wallet.
What technology can't you live without?
Digital wallets/NFC in mobile – I'm not a physical wallet type of person, so being able to whip out my phone and pay for things by tap is very convenient, especially for unplanned purchases, like when I do weekend errands, see a bubble milk tea place, and end up buying a chocolate bubble tea with pearls (yum yum). It also holds my digital loyalty card so I can scan that then pay. What a bonus!
What annoys you in the world of tech currently?
When something as simple as downloading Windows updates still can cause my PC/laptop to stop working properly and sometimes even crash. By now, you'd think that Microsoft had this covered. I don't ever want to revisit my Windows update experience on my work laptop that resulted in a blue screen issue and having to call an in-house technician to fix it – that was madness.
Georgie Garnham
DBZ Head of Finance
Georgie Garnham is our Head of Finance. Her background in Marketing and Project Management makes her a behind-the-scenes whiz. She controls everything at DBZ from HR to Finance and Payroll.
Cove.ai s a new way to explore, plan, and work together with AI.
What piece of tech excites you at the moment?
I had a play with Cove last night and I love it – I can see so many uses for it. I asked it to provide me with an Australian in-season vegetarian meal plan for the month of November, and then a shopping list. BLOWN AWAY! It's a game changer. The ability to get such detailed, relevant, beautifully presented (I even got imagery) information instantly makes me excited about the practical uses of AI in everyday life.
What technology can't you live without?
GPS navigation – those who know me will understand – I have the worst sense of direction. Without it, I'd probably still be wandering around trying to find my way home from that meeting last Tuesday!
What annoys you in the world of tech currently?
My own limitations and constant worry about the negative impact tech is having on society – the speed at which AI is being adopted without, perhaps, proper understanding of the impacts is concerning. Things like the spread of misinformation from engagement-driven algorithms to the erosion of trust. How can I believe anything I see on a screen if I can't verify its authenticity?
Dana Teahan
DBZ Founder & CEO
Dana Teahan is DBZ’s Founder and CEO. He’s a true change agent and leader — a highly experienced technologist, specialising in the integration between data, business, marketing, technology, strategy and delivery.
What piece of tech excites you at the moment?
Gen AI, as I think it will make a significant impact on the way we use technology (with all the good and bad that comes with that). It's as instrumental as the printing press, computer, internet, and mobile phone in terms of technological disruption and change in every aspect of modern Western life – though I do think we'll see a bubble, like with all technology: a first rush, mass mistakes, and corrections.
Kimbal Musk’s food tech company Square Roots
What technology can't you live without?
Food – if I think of the greatest technological advance for us, it was moving from hunter-gatherer to agriculture. Food is technology we can't live without. We've engineered, manipulated, and changed even natural organic food. It’s an evolving industry, with visionaries like Kimbal Musk using technology to grow food in hyper climate controlled environments to get exceptional yield. Check out his company Square Roots for more information.
What annoys you in the world of tech, currently?
Not owning things – I think this world of digital media – where you effectively don't "own" what you buy (music, films, books) – is a big annoyance. We'll have a future Kodak moment and potentially lose a chunk of things we think will always be there. Long live vinyl records and physical books!