A day with Samira Imsirovic-Kaya – CXO at IBM iX DACH

Step by step to the top

Samira’s career impressively demonstrates how diverse experiences and targeted development can pave the way to a leadership position. After completing her training in media technology and media management, she started her career in the IT industry. 11 years ago she joined the digital agency ecx.io, now IBM iX, as an account manager. Step by step, she took on more and more responsibility: as Executive Director her initial focus was on the mobility, digital health and insurance sectors. This was followed by several management positions, including Chief Customer Officer (CCO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Samira has been a member of the management team since 2021 and Chief Experience Officer (CXO) since April 2024.

Driver of change

For Samira, her role in management is much more than just a leadership position – she sees herself as a catalyst for change – both in terms of the transformation of our customers and her own company development. For her, success is based on technological innovation and economic impact – but above all, it depends on the people who make these results possible, Samira is convinced of this.

“Innovation and success are unthinkable without technology. But we must not forget the people behind the technology. Only if we focus on them can we achieve a sustainable impact. This applies to our customers as well as to our employees”, she explains.

Focus on personal potential

Samira promotes a corporate culture that focuses on collaboration, openness and appreciation and creates space for authentic personalities. It’s about creating a working environment that not only rewards performance but also takes into account the personal and professional potential of employees. “A good working environment is a key factor for success. There is room for development, for new ideas and for a culture in which everyone has the opportunity to grow”, she says.

Diversity as the key to success

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) are also important to Samira when it comes to the working environment. In the digital industry, which is often still characterized by imbalance, she is committed to promoting a culture of tolerance and diversity. One example of this is her commitment to the “Women in Tech” community. Samira feels that diversity is not only a moral imperative, but a clear competitive advantage. In her opinion, different perspectives promote creative solutions and contribute to strengthening the company in the long term.

Samira’s workday is tightly organized: she juggles team leadership, strategic planning, and customer focus, while also keeping an eye on tomorrow’s young talent. This is what a typical working day looks like:

06:00 am
Off to work!

Samira starts her day early. By car and with a hot tea, she travels from her home in Wels to Salzburg Airport, because today she has meetings at the IBM iX Studio Düsseldorf. Before boarding, she checks upcoming appointments and prepares for the day. The first calls begin at 8:00 AM.

09:00 am
“Good morning” in Dusseldorf”

Having arrived at the Dusseldorf studio, Samira is looking forward to personal exchange with colleagues on site. As is often the case, the coffee kitchen serves as an informal meeting place for morning discussions. For Samira, these discussions offer a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas on current topics and at the same time gain an insight into ongoing customer projects and the mood within the team.

10:00 am
Board Meeting

The regular board meeting is an important fixture for discussing the future of the company among decision-makers. Key topics such as business planning, strategic direction, the development of customer business and training for employees are discussed here. As a member of the management team, Samira actively contributes to setting the course to respond to customer needs in a targeted and solution-oriented manner.

12:00 pm
Lunch break with a change of perspective

Samira, the lunch break is much more than just a time out. She uses the break to chat with colleagues over food. There is the space for authentic exchange and an open ear. Samira finds out what her colleagues are currently concerned about and where the problems lie. With new impulses and fresh energy, she is prepared for the afternoon.

02:00 pm
Mentoring: Sharing is Caring

Mentoring is a real matter of the heart for Samira. She not only shares her knowledge with over 10 mentees, but also gains valuable insights into different roles and cultural perspectives. Mentoring is not only a way to pass on knowledge, but also a way to continuously learn, as Samira emphasizes.

03:00 pm
Solve customer challenges

The afternoon is dedicated to customer work. Together with the respective Client Director or Business Developer, Samira discusses offering strategies, pricing, and team setups – always with the goal of developing solutions that create real added value – from people for people, in the spirit of the human factors, which we at IBM iX live.

05:00 pm
Almost there

The working day is slowly coming to an end. Samira uses the last few hours in the office to work quietly on strategic documents. This way she is optimally prepared for the next day.

07:00 pm
Closing time!

Samira is often away on business trips and goes out to dinner with her team in the evening. When she is at home, she loves trying out new recipes and spending the evenings with friends or family.

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