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Work Experience - Diye Wariebi, founder, DigiBridge
Helen Holtom, Regeneration & Renewal, 10 August 2007
Diye Wariebi, 36, is the founder of DigiBridge, a London-based social enterprise that provides ICT training and support to poor families and individuals, as well as to local voluntary and community sector groups.
It also refurbishes old computers and distributes them to households that receive ICT training.
What has been your most beneficial career experience to date? I served with the Territorial Army between 1995 and 1999. During this time I learned how to harness my organisational and time management skills, and how to prioritise tasks. These skills have helped me throughout my career ever since.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? My father, who ran his own firm, gave me two pieces of invaluable advice. One, ensure that your staff feel part of the organisation; and two, never spend more than your income.
What's the best training you've had? I took part in a course called Positive Organisations, Positive Staff which was run by computer training company Happy Computers. It taught me how to create a good working environment through effective staff management: if staff are happy in their jobs, then a business will look after itself.
What book would you recommend? Maverick by Ricardo Semler changed how I looked at running an organisation. The book suggests that staff set their own targets and salaries, and argues that managers should base the running of a business on trust and creating a positive working environment.
What do you wish you'd known when you started out? I wish I'd known that individual hard work doesn't necessarily bring success. In the early days I took on all the responsibilities and put in a lot of hours to set up DigiBridge, but things didn't grow. Once I involved other people and allowed time for reflection, things began to progress.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1996: Graduates with a masters in civil engineering; becomes engineer at consultancy Sir Alexander Gibbs & Partners.
1998: Joins London Underground as a contract support engineer.
2001: Becomes technical manager at internet company Real Data Services.
2004: Founds DigiBridge.
2005: Graduates from the School of Social Entrepreneurs.
2003: Teaches basic IT to vulnerable people at Poplar HARCA (Housing and Regeneration Community Association).
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