Juan Lopez-Valcarcel is the Chief Digital Officer at Pearson International — the world’s leading learning company — where he is responsible for digital transformation outside of North America.

Question 1: How do you define ‘digital strategy’? 

“I define digital strategy as a successful combination of: Focus (making the right resource allocation choices to drive your digital business transformation); Talent (changing the DNA of your company); and Speed (perfect is the enemy of done, always be iterating).”

Question 2:  What is your favorite part about being a Chief Digital Officer?

“Hiring smart people and setting them up for success by giving them the authority and resources to drive change. ”

Question 3: What kind of mobile device(s) do you have, and what are your three favorite apps? 

Devices: “At work, I am tethered to my Nexus 7 tablet and iPhone. On holiday, I carry a very old Nokia and an old Kindle, so that I talk and read without feeling wired.

Favourite apps: “Evernote has transformed the way I work, America’s Cup gives me a daily fix of sailing videos, and ChinesePod helps me practice my Mandarin during my commute.”

Question 4:  Why should people care about Pearson? 

“We help people make progress in their lives through learning. Across different stages of life (school, university, professional), we deliver interactive content and assessments to help you improve as an individual, enjoy the journey of learning, and achieve your personal objectives. We care about people’s success in life, whether it’s passing an exam, finding a job, or learning a new language or skill. ”

Question 5: What advice do you have for aspiring digital professionals?

“Never stop learning: Your skills and expertise in a fast moving, dynamic industry will never stop growing, changing, and evolving. Make sure you’re open to new ways of doing things — there are so many great online resources out there for brushing up your skills (often)!”

For more information about Juan Lopez-Valcarcel, visit the Pearson website, check him out on LinkedIn, or follow him on Twitter (@jlopezvalcarcel).