Author: CIO Times

Rachel Choong is a highly accomplished Technical Professional with over 25 years of expertise in Program and Project Management. Throughout her career, she has consistently delivered cutting-edge solutions for a diverse portfolio of clients, spearheading multi-million-dollar projects that have propelled businesses forward in their respective industries. 

As a Subject Matter Expert in project management, Rachel is adept at requirements gathering, risk mitigation, resource allocation, project planning, and establishing critical milestones for success. Her ability to navigate complex programs has earned her recognition from executive leaders, including the CISO, who have entrusted her with business-critical projects that enhance security and save companies millions by mitigating system vulnerabilities and information breaches.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Rachel is a published author of “54 Inspired Leaders,” where she interviewed top executives to uncover insights on leadership, resilience, and personal growth, inspiring professionals to pursue success with renewed determination.

The Inspiring Journey 

Best known for her ability to turn around troubled projects and deliver the desired outcomes, Rachel has built a distinguished career managing complex projects across cybersecurity, technology implementation, and digital transformation.

Her entry into this field came somewhat serendipitously – after graduating with an IT degree, Rachel’s first position happened to be in consulting and project management. What began as a chance quickly developed into a passion as she discovered her natural aptitude for coordinating complex technical initiatives and delivering results.

She excels at taking on challenging, high-stakes projects and delivering them on budget, ahead of schedule, without compromising quality. Rachel’s talent for meticulous risk assessment, resource allocation, and strategic planning has repeatedly transformed potential project failures into notable successes.

What has been most rewarding in her journey is watching her responsibilities grow naturally over time. “I still remember my first project with a modest budget compared to the multi-million-dollar programs I now lead. With each new challenge, I have pushed myself to deliver faster, while managing greater complexity — not because it was expected, but because I thrived under pressure and found deep satisfaction in exceeding expectations together with my teams,” says Rachel.

At Coles, she implemented critical security infrastructure that protected sensitive customer data while enabling technological innovation. At NBN Co, Rachel delivered an Access Management solution that protected Australia’s broadband network by implementing ACSC Essential Eight mitigation strategies.

Throughout her career at NAB, Telstra, and other organizations, she has consistently turned around troubled projects, often completing the work in a fraction of the expected time — such as delivering a major security project at NAB in just three months against a projected one-year timeline.

Rachel’s exceptional work has earned multiple awards, including the Telstra CEO Awards for SmartHome, the CIO Award for the Block Charging project, and the OSS Inventory Solution Centres Award for NBN. She has also received nominations for the Director’s Choice Award and NAB’s Value – WIN Together recognition.  

“To me, success is measured not only by the quality level expected by customers and company but also by delivering ahead of schedule and under budget. I have a rare combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to navigate complex organizational challenges that have made me the go-to professional for business-critical programs that enhance security and save organizations millions in potential damages,” shares Rachel.

Unraveling the Author in Her

The inspiration for the book “54 Inspired Leaders,” came from an unexpected source—Rachel’s husband. He would often return home from business dinners and share inspiring stories about the leaders he had met. Listening to these accounts of resilience, wisdom, and achievement, Rachel realized these powerful stories deserved a broader audience. She thought: if these stories could brighten her evenings and change her perspective, what might they do for others who need encouragement?

That curiosity led her to ask her husband if she could interview his friends. They embraced the idea, introducing her to even more leaders eager to share their journeys. Rachel started publishing these interviews on LinkedIn, simply wanting to spread inspiration and wisdom.  

Soon, her interviewees suggested compiling these stories into a book. That’s when ‘54 Inspired Leaders’ was born. At its core, this book is about learning from remarkable leaders, finding motivation in their experiences, and embracing the lessons that drive success.  

The Perils of Being a First-Time Author

As a senior cybersecurity professional managing critical projects, finding time to interview 54 leaders, transcribe conversations, organize content, draw out the key messages, and assemble the book was Rachel’s biggest challenge. Arranging meetings with busy high-level executives across various industries, including C-suite leaders, required persistent networking and considerable scheduling flexibility. She overcame this by being extremely organized with her calendar and remaining flexible to accommodate these leaders’ busy schedules, sometimes conducting interviews late evenings.

While she possesses exceptional listening skills that have served her well throughout her career, translating hours of nuanced conversations into concise, impactful written content presented a different kind of challenge. Rachel discovered that the same deep listening that made her effective in project management also generated an abundance of rich material, almost too much. To overcome this, she relied on her common sense to determine which insights to retain.

“I asked myself, ‘What will truly inspire readers?’ and ‘What unique perspective does this leader offer?’ This filtering process helped me distill the essence, without losing the authentic voice of each contributor,” she shares.

As a first-time author focused on leadership and inspiration, when her primary expertise is in cybersecurity rather than publishing, navigating the book production process was a steep learning curve. From editing to design to distribution, Rachel found herself in unfamiliar territory. She approached this challenge the same way she tackled complex technical projects — by breaking it down into manageable phases and seeking expertise when needed. After publishing, balancing “subtle positioning” while effectively promoting the book required careful attention to stay true to her authentic voice while ensuring the positive messages reached those who could benefit.

The most unexpected challenge was transforming intimate conversations into structured content that would truly inspire readers. What worked in spoken conversation did not always translate to the page. Rachel overcame this by applying the same methodical approach she uses in project management—organizing content thematically, identifying patterns across different interviews, and creating a coherent narrative that preserved the unique wisdom each leader shared.  

“I personally benefited from the learnings and inspirations from these leaders that I had the privilege to interview,” she says.

Creating a Legacy

In a world often filled with negative headlines, Rachel wanted to create something different — a collection of authentic voices that could inspire others to keep moving forward, even on days when getting out of bed feels impossible.

What drives her is knowing that somewhere, someone might pick up this book when they are struggling and find the exact words they need. As she was taught as a child, doing good deeds and spreading positive words creates ripples far beyond what we can see.

Rachel’s greatest hope is that “54 Inspired Leaders” serves as a reminder that we all face challenges, but with the right mindset and support, we can take small steps toward seemingly impossible dreams. The wisdom these remarkable leaders have shared is not just about success — it is about resilience, purpose, and finding light during dark times.

Philosophies Mirroring Life

Throughout “54 Inspired Leaders,” several core philosophies that have guided both Rachel’s personal life and her 25-year career in technology and cybersecurity come to light:

• Optimism as a transformative force: Her book consistently emphasizes that positivity can help people overcome obstacles. As she states directly: “The goal of this book is to remind others to be positive in life and be confident that eventually, good days will come”. This mirrors her approach to complex programs, where maintaining optimism while facing technical challenges has been crucial to her success in delivering solutions ahead of schedule.

• The power of connection and sharing wisdom: By bringing together leaders from various backgrounds and fields, Rachel’s book embodies her belief that we can learn valuable lessons from people with different life experiences. Throughout her career managing diverse teams across organizations like Telstra, NAB, and Coles, she has seen how shared knowledge accelerates problem-solving. The book creates a platform where successful leaders share insights with others who might not otherwise have access to such mentorship.

• Service to others: What inspires her is to give others a second chance in life. Rachel’s personal philosophy is centered on helping others and lifting them up. This value drives both her book project and her professional approach, where she focuses on implementing solutions that protect organizations and ultimately the people they serve.

• Resilience through difficult times: Many of the featured leaders discuss overcoming challenges, reinforcing Rachel’s belief that greatness often begins with a small spark of positivity or a shift in perspective. In her cybersecurity work, resilience is not just a personal quality but a critical system attribute — the ability to withstand attacks and recover quickly. Both the technical systems she has implemented and the leadership stories she has collected demonstrate that with persistence, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

These philosophies are not separate from Rachel’s technical expertise but rather inform how she applies it – focusing on solutions that empower people, building resilient systems, and maintaining optimism even when facing complex challenges.

In her book, one of the interviewees – Head of Technology Operations said, “I had to build higher and deeper fences, better netting for the trees, and I got better at defense over many seasons”. 

What struck Rachel was how perfectly this paralleled modern cybersecurity: “Life was a bit like cybersecurity: defend against attackers, always building higher, stronger and deeper fences”.

In our security world, we often focus on sophisticated tools and frameworks, but his story reminds us of the fundamentals – persistent improvement of our defenses, learning from each breach that we read about in media, and understanding that security is never ‘done’,” she explains.

Nurturing High-performing Teams 

Throughout her 25 years leading technology and cybersecurity projects, Rachel has developed a framework for building teams that consistently exceed expectations in high-pressure environments:

• Foster collaboration with open communication where team members feel empowered to contribute ideas and raise concerns. This creates an environment where everyone understands our collective goals and their specific role in achieving them — critical for navigating the rapid changes in competitive industries.

• Embrace challenges as growth opportunities. Rather than shielding her teams from difficult problems, she encourages them to tackle challenges head-on. She provides guidance without unnecessary intervention, which builds their problem-solving capabilities faster than any formal training could.

• Lead with respect. She found that teams who feel genuinely respected are more willing to go the extra mile and support each other through difficult phases and with empathy.

Technology – Transforming Industries

Technology has fundamentally transformed how organizations across industries operate by revolutionizing our relationship with data. In every sector Rachel has worked in – from telecommunications to healthcare to banking – what was once physical interaction has been digitized, making data the primary product and currency of business.

The most dramatic transformation, she points out, is visible in banking, where most customer interactions now occur through digital transfers, completely reshaping the customer experience and operational model. This shift has transformed not just how services are delivered but the very nature of risk and competitive advantage.

This digital transformation has elevated cybersecurity from a technical concern to a strategic business imperative. Organizations must now manage an integrated ecosystem of people, processes, and technology to secure their data assets. For Rachel, as a project manager in cybersecurity, understanding all three components has become essential — a significant evolution from when technology management was compartmentalized.

“Perhaps most transformative is how security has emerged as a key business differentiator. Organizations that prioritize cybersecurity build greater trust with customers, partners, and regulators, while those that neglect it risk business continuity. The transformation is complete: security is no longer just about protecting data – it is now about ensuring business resilience, maintaining stakeholder trust, and ultimately, organizational survival in a technology-driven landscape,” she says.

Defining Trends in the Industry

There are two trends – artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. 

The rise of AI agents represents the most transformative trend reshaping the technology landscape today. As highlighted by industry leaders, these AI agents are fundamentally changing how we interact with software, potentially disrupting traditional cloud-based SaaS applications.

Drawing from her 25+ years in cybersecurity and project delivery, Rachel sees four key impacts of this trend:

1. Productivity transformation through automation of routine tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
2. Seamless data integration across previously siloed systems, providing comprehensive insights without managing multiple applications.
3. Democratized technology access through conversational interfaces that eliminate steep learning curves.
4. Personalization at an unprecedented scale that adapts to individual users’ specific needs and preferences.

This shift is accelerating rapidly across industries, with early adopters already gaining significant competitive advantages. Organizations that embrace this trend strategically will position themselves for future success.

However, the security implications cannot be overlooked. The evolution of AI agents demands corresponding advances in:

• Privileged access management
• Comprehensive monitoring systems
• Strong authentication protocols
• Clear data governance frameworks
• Regular security assessments

Looking ahead to five years, organizations that successfully balance innovation with robust security measures will thrive in this AI-driven future. The key will be implementing cutting-edge solutions with security integrated from the start — not added as an afterthought — a principle Rachel has championed throughout her career implementing major technology transformations.

Quantum computing poses a significant cybersecurity threat by potentially breaking current encryption methods that protect sensitive data and communications. This may lead to massive data breaches exposing sensitive information. While quantum computing technology is still developing, experts believe quantum computers capable of breaking encryption will emerge in the coming years. Organizations need to mitigate by taking proactive security measures before quantum threats fully materialize. They should begin planning and implementing security measures now, particularly for sensitive data with a 10 to 15-year lifespan.

Advice for Aspiring Professionals

“Make learning your competitive advantage – The cyber landscape evolves constantly, making continuous learning non-negotiable. Dedicate time each week to expand your knowledge through industry certifications, online courses, technical blogs, and reading articles. In cybersecurity particularly, yesterday’s solutions often do not address today’s threats. Learn to view security incidents not as failures but as valuable learning opportunities that strengthen your defenses,” advises Rachel.

She further says, “Build meaningful connections – In my journey interviewing leaders for “54 Inspired Leaders”, I was struck by Michael Lappen’s approach to mentorship. He shared, “You have to give to get. By offering to help, his mentors would observe what he was doing, offer advice to improve, and they would discuss challenges”. This wisdom applies perfectly to cybersecurity. Offer assistance or share your knowledge through write-ups. The cybersecurity community values those who contribute before asking for favors.”

The Next Milestone

Writing “54 Inspired Leaders” opened Rachel’s eyes to something quite special — the power of capturing wisdom that might otherwise remain hidden in private conversations. Looking ahead to the next five years, she is drawn to expanding beyond her cybersecurity roots. She sees herself curating more leadership stories, perhaps through a second book that dives even deeper into what makes exceptional leaders tick.

Rachel’s goal is not to become famous but to build meaningful connections that open doors to unexpected collaborations. LinkedIn has become her garden for growing these possibilities — planting seeds of inspiration weekly. The next chapter of her professional life will be about leveraging the credibility the book has built while staying true to why she wrote it — to help others find their spark of motivation when they need it most.

Through writing, she will continue to showcase unique leadership skills and apply them in new professional contexts beyond just authorship. She is leveraging her strengths to do good deeds. 

“Few people can interview dozens of leaders and identify the common threads while appreciating the unique qualities of each and find connections across different leadership styles and industries. I am not just collecting quotes – I am engaging in a thoughtful dialogue with these leaders and inviting readers into that conversation. These same skills that made my book unique will carry forward into whatever new leadership roles and projects I pursue, whether through further writing, speaking engagements, or entirely new professional opportunities,” she explains.

Lessons from the Leader’s Journey

Throughout her development, Rachel has learned that effective leadership starts with deep listening. Leadership is not about having all the answers but about creating environments where the best solutions can emerge collectively if we understand others’ perspectives before offering guidance.

Leadership is also about putting the team’s growth and success ahead of personal recognition. It is about acknowledging each other’s contributions rather than one’s own existence.

“I aspire to leave a legacy of empowerment – helping people discover capabilities within themselves they didn’t know existed. I find deep fulfillment when my team approaches me and says: “Rachel, I never thought we could deliver that”, they claim with new confidence,” she concludes.

Look into her exclusive digital magazine

Effective recruitment is the cornerstone of success for both companies and individuals. For businesses, hiring the right talent ensures productivity, innovation, and a positive workplace culture. A well-matched employee not only contributes to the company’s growth but also enhances team dynamics and efficiency. Poor recruitment, on the other hand, can lead to low morale, high turnover, and wasted resources.

For individuals, securing the right job aligns with their skills, career aspirations, and personal values, fostering professional fulfillment and stability. When employees find a role that matches their strengths and ambitions, they perform better and experience greater job satisfaction.

Having worked in recruitment for over a decade, Sennette Lam has seen how the industry has evolved, and with that evolution came a shift in priorities. There’s been a growing emphasis on targets, sales, and volume, and while those are valid business drivers, she always felt that the heart of recruitment lies in something deeper: genuine connection and knowledge of your product, in this case, industry.

When Sennette first started out, what drew her in — and what kept her excited — was the people. She loved speaking to candidates, understanding their stories, and helping them find roles that truly suited them. She loved partnering with clients to understand their culture, their needs, and building relationships that lasted. That’s where she found the most meaning in the work.

Over time, Sennette began to crave a way of working that brought that personal touch back to the forefront. So, when the opportunity to create TalentBet Recruitment came along, it felt like the right moment to take everything she had learned over the years and build something that truly reflected her values.

Connecting People with Opportunities

Sennette’s journey into recruitment started back in 2005 at a company called Prime Time Recruitment in the UK. That was her first real exposure to the industry, and it’s where she discovered a genuine passion for connecting people with the right opportunities.

A few years later, she had the chance to relocate abroad, which led her to Gibraltar. That’s where her iGaming career kicked off — she joined BWin as a Poker Customer Support Agent on the English desk. It was a great introduction to the fast-paced, dynamic world of iGaming.

Shortly after, another relocation brought Sennette to Malta, where she took on a role at Kindred as an Executive Assistant to the General Manager. It was during this time, with a young child at home, that she realised she needed more flexibility. That’s when Betting Connections approached her to join them as one of their iGaming recruiters.

What started as a flexible opportunity turned into a 10-year chapter. Sennette progressed through several roles — from recruiter to Team Leader, into management, and eventually became Head of iGaming. It was an incredible experience, but after a decade, she reached a point where there wasn’t much room for further growth.

So, she decided to take a short break, reflect on what she’d learned, and then started TalentBet Recruitment. As CEO, she has had the chance to build something based on everything she believes great recruitment should be — authentic, value-driven, and focused on long-term relationships with both clients and candidates.

Setting the Grounds for Talent

From the very beginning, setting up TalentBet Recruitment has been a team effort for Sennette. Ana Lopes, who helped co-found the business, has been instrumental in shaping TalentBet — her commitment, ethics, and belief in their shared vision have been a driving force behind everything they’ve achieved. “We joke and say I am her voice and she is my Brain, something which makes us a good match. It’s truly special to find someone who has your vision and passion, and with her along for the ride, it’s been a very fun one,” shares Sennette.

The duo was also fortunate to bring with them a group of strong, talented recruiters from their previous company, ones who shared their passion and wanted to work somewhere that had meaning — people Sennette and Ana had worked with for years and who shared their vision for what great recruitment should look like. They bring commitment, integrity, and deep industry knowledge, and the founders trust them completely to represent TalentBet.

“Their belief in our mission and their dedication to doing things the right way have helped create the collaborative, people-first culture we’re so proud of today,” says Sennette.

The Agency

TalentBet is a specialised recruitment agency dedicated exclusively to the iGaming and Fintech sectors. It partners with businesses across various jurisdictions to deliver tailored hiring solutions, always with a focus on quality, alignment, and long-term success.

What truly sets TalentBet apart is its specialization and expertise. It focuses solely on iGaming and Fintech, and it stands by this approach. It allows the agency to go deep into the industries it serves without diluting its knowledge across unrelated sectors.

“We are the experts, and I genuinely believe in that. Every person we hire comes from within iGaming or Fintech, so we speak the same language as our clients and candidates and understand the unique challenges and nuances of the market,” says Sennette.

Beyond that, TalentBet is working hard to change the industry standard. Recruitment has too often been competitive in the wrong ways — internally and externally. At TalentBet, Sennette is creating a culture where recruiters collaborate, share knowledge, and support each other. “Because when we work together, we deliver a better, more positive experience for everyone involved — clients, candidates, and consultants alike,” she emphasizes.

The Complexities of Fintech and iGaming Recruitment

One of the key challenges in hiring, shares Sennette, is finding the right people — those who are not just qualified, but truly aligned with the company’s needs and culture. Thanks to TalentBet’s extensive and well-established candidate network, it is able to reach high-quality talent that many clients may not have direct access to. Recruitment is a full-time job, and to do it well, it requires full-time focus, industry insight, and a proactive approach — all of which TalentBet brings to every search.

TalentBet navigates the complexities of Fintech and iGaming recruitment by staying highly focused, informed, and connected within these industries. These are fast-moving, highly regulated sectors that require a deep understanding of not just roles and skills, but also compliance, licensing jurisdictions, market shifts, and company cultures.

“Because we specialise exclusively in these two verticals, we’re not just recruiters — we’re industry insiders. This allows us to better assess fit, anticipate hiring needs, and respond quickly to changing market conditions,” adds Sennette.

TalentBet also takes a consultative approach — helping its clients shape job specs, streamline interview processes, and stay competitive when it comes to attracting top talent. On the candidate side, it offers guidance, clarity, and honest feedback to ensure long-term success, not just quick placements.

A Supportive Workplace Culture

At TalentBet, fostering a strong company culture starts with trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Sennette has always believed that recruitment doesn’t need to be cutthroat or overly target-driven to be successful. Instead, TalentBet focuses on creating an environment where recruiters support one another, share knowledge, and genuinely celebrate each other’s wins.

TalentBet hires people who come from the iGaming or Fintech industries because they understand the market, but just as importantly, it looks for those who align with its values. It wants people who care about delivering quality, building real relationships, and doing things the right way.

TalentBet gives its team the freedom to work independently, but with the structure and tools they need to succeed. There’s no micromanagement — just mutual respect and a shared commitment to doing great work. That’s how Sennette and Ana have built a culture where people feel empowered, valued, and excited to grow.

This approach not only helps the agency retain great recruiters, but it also attracts them. People want to work somewhere they can be trusted, challenged, and supported. That’s exactly what is offered at TalentBet.

Staying at the Top

At TalentBet, staying ahead of industry trends starts with being deeply embedded in the iGaming and Fintech ecosystems. Because it focuses solely on these sectors, it is constantly tuned into what’s happening — from market shifts and emerging technologies to changes in regulation and hiring behaviours.

TalentBet has made it a priority to stay informed through regular engagement with clients, candidates, and industry events. Its team is actively involved in the space, not just as recruiters but as genuine contributors — listening, learning, and sharing knowledge across the board.

Internally, TalentBet encourages ongoing learning and collaboration. Insights are shared as a team, keeping an open dialogue with its clients, and regularly evaluating its own processes to make sure it is not just reacting to change, but anticipating it.

“What also keeps us competitive is our agility. As a specialized agency, we can adapt quickly without bureaucracy — whether that’s refining how we approach search, tailoring our candidate engagement, or reshaping our offerings to meet client needs. Our ability to move fast, stay informed, and prioritise quality is what keeps TalentBet ahead of the curve,” shares Sennette.

Being the Trusted Partner

At TalentBet, relationship-building is at the core of everything — and it’s never a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether the team is working with clients or candidates, the strategy is simple: listen first, then act.

With clients, the team takes time to understand their business beyond the job description — their culture, goals, and what success truly looks like in a role. TalentBet positions itself as partners, not just providers, offering honest advice, market insights, and ongoing support throughout the hiring process and beyond.

For candidates, it’s about transparency and trust. The agency gives them a clear picture of opportunities, supports them through every stage, and never treats them like just another placement. Many of the people TalentBet has placed come back to it later as hiring managers, and to Sennette, that’s the best indicator of a strong relationship.

The agency also makes sure to stay in touch regularly, not just when there’s a vacancy to fill. “Whether it’s a check-in, market update, or just a conversation, we’re always working to maintain that human connection. That’s what sets TalentBet apart — we’re in it for the long term,” says Sennette.

Trends and Demands of an Evolving Industry

One of the biggest trends, says Sennette, shaping the future of Fintech and iGaming recruitment is the increased demand for specialised, cross-functional talent — professionals who understand not just their core role, but how it integrates with compliance, data, tech, and customer experience. As these industries continue to evolve and mature, companies are looking for people who can wear multiple hats and adapt quickly.

In Fintech, there’s a strong push for candidates with experience in regulatory technology, payments, crypto, and digital banking, particularly those who understand both the technical and compliance sides of the business. There’s also been a shift toward remote and flexible hiring, which has opened up new talent pools but also intensified competition.

In iGaming, the demand has remained high across areas like product, data, CRM, and acquisition, especially as more markets regulate and companies expand globally. What’s changed is that candidates are now more selective — they’re looking for more than just salary. They want flexibility, purpose, and a healthy culture. This means employers have to work harder to stand out and retain talent.

“Overall, the last few years have made it clear: quality recruitment is more important than ever. The market is competitive, the pace is fast, and the ability to connect with the right talent—quickly and meaningfully — has become a key differentiator for companies looking to scale effectively,” she sums up.

Words of Experience

Sennette’s biggest advice for anyone looking to enter the Fintech or iGaming sectors is to be curious, stay adaptable, and focus on building genuine relationships. These industries move fast, and they reward people who are proactive, eager to learn, and not afraid of change.

Start by understanding the landscape, she advises. One should learn the basics of how these businesses operate — whether that’s the regulatory environment, customer acquisition models, or how different departments work together. Even if one is coming from a different industry, showing that they’ve done their homework and understand the ecosystem will set them apart.

Also, she advises not to underestimate the power of networking. One must reach out to people already in the space, connect with recruiters who specialise in Fintech or iGaming, and attend events or webinars to get exposure. Both industries are built on strong networks, and opportunities often come through who you know, not just what you know.

“Finally, be open-minded about your entry point. You may not land your dream role right away, but getting your foot in the door with the right company can open up paths you hadn’t even considered. These industries are full of opportunity — it’s just about taking that first step with the right mindset,” she says.

Ambitious Goals

Looking ahead, Sennette’s vision for the next five years is to position TalentBet as the leading specialist recruitment partner in the iGaming and Fintech space, not just in terms of reach, but in terms of reputation, quality, and impact.

The agency will continue expanding into new regulated markets, growing its international presence while maintaining the boutique, people-first approach that sets it apart. She sees TalentBet building stronger partnerships with clients, offering more strategic talent solutions, and continuing to attract top-tier recruiters who share their values and industry focus.

Personally, Sennette wants to keep leading by example, nurturing a team culture built on collaboration, trust, and continuous learning. She also wants to continue raising the bar for what recruitment can look like — not just as a service, but as a meaningful career path for those in the industry.

“At the core, the goal remains the same: to connect the right people with the right opportunities, and to do it in a way that brings real value to everyone involved. If, in five years, we’ve helped shape a more ethical, insightful, and human recruitment standard in iGaming and Fintech — that, to me, will be success,” she says.

Life Lessons Shaping her Legacy

One of the biggest lessons she has learned as a leader, shares Sennette, is the importance of staying true to your values, even when the industry around you pushes in a different direction. Over the years, she has seen how easy it is to fall into a transactional mindset in recruitment — chasing numbers, quick wins, and volume. But she has also seen that real, lasting success comes from building trust, staying consistent, and putting people first.

Sennette has also learned that leadership is about creating space for others to thrive. It’s not just about driving results — it’s about nurturing talent, listening to the team, and leading by example. When people feel supported, heard, and empowered, the results come naturally.

Through TalentBet, the legacy she hopes to leave is a more human, collaborative, and meaningful approach to recruitment. Sennette wants to challenge the industry norm and show that you can run a successful business without compromising on integrity, empathy, or quality. If people — whether clients, candidates, or recruiters — walk away from working with us feeling genuinely supported and respected, then I know we’ve done something right.

“That’s the kind of impact I want to be known for — one that puts people back at the heart of the industry,” she concludes.

Leading with Heart

For Sennette, the most rewarding part of leading TalentBet has been seeing her vision come to life — creating a recruitment business that’s genuinely people-first. After years in the industry, she and Ana had a clear idea of what they wanted to change: less focus on aggressive targets, more focus on real relationships, quality, and integrity.

Building TalentBet has allowed them to create a culture where recruiters support one another, where clients trust them as partners, and where candidates feel genuinely guided. Watching the team grow — not just in numbers, but in confidence, expertise, and collaboration — has been incredibly fulfilling.

“It’s also been hugely rewarding to see the impact we’ve had on clients and candidates alike. Whether it’s helping a business find that one key hire that transforms a team, or helping someone land a role that changes their life — those are the moments that remind us why we started this. Leading TalentBet has given us the chance to make recruitment feel meaningful again — and that, for me, is the biggest reward,” says Sennette.

Actions over Words

At TalentBet, we’re proud to say we’re the experts — and we’re on a mission to make recruitment fun again. With deep roots in the iGaming and Fintech sectors, we bring genuine insight, real industry experience, and a passion for people to everything we do.

We cut through the noise, ditch the overly corporate approach, and focus on what really matters: building relationships, creating opportunities, and enjoying the process along the way. Recruitment doesn’t have to feel transactional — when it’s done right, it’s exciting, impactful, and yes, actually fun.

Quote: “Our goal is simple: to connect great people with great opportunities in a way that’s informed, personal, and impactful.”

Quote: “Our value lies in knowing the landscape inside and out — and in bringing the right people together with insight, care, and speed.”

Read the full digital edition now: Top 10 Visionary CEOs to Watch in 2025

Tamecka McKay is a visionary technology leader with a strong track record in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and public sector innovation. As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the City of Fort Lauderdale, she has spearheaded major modernization efforts, including cloud migrations, infrastructure upgrades, and digital transformation. With over 25 years of experience, Tamecka has held leadership roles in Broward County Public Schools and the Town of Davie, driving strategic IT initiatives that enhance efficiency and resilience.  

Beyond her technical expertise, Tamecka is deeply committed to community engagement and workforce development, advocating for cybersecurity education and tech accessibility for underserved populations. Her leadership philosophy centers on bridging technology with human impact, ensuring that innovation serves both businesses and communities.  

A Journey of Grit and Determination

Being a child of high school dropouts with lifelong substance abuse struggles, Tamecka’s highest aspiration as a teenager was just to get through high school.  After a field trip to Seton Hall Law School, organized by her guidance counselor, where she saw people who looked like her going to law school, she realized she, too, could dream bigger than just high school.  

Unfortunately, after a few years in community college, she had to start a family of her own. Determined not to be another statistic, she took one class at a time while juggling motherhood and family..  Still wanting to go to Law School, Tamecka decided to take a detour and obtain a Microsoft Certification and was offered a help desk support role immediately after with Motorola.  She quickly became a top performer with outstanding organizational, communication, and documentation skills, which weren’t as common in the typical technical support person’s tool set.  

With business and technology quickly converging, Tamecka’s ability to translate technology to business and demonstrated outcomes propelled her into a team leader, supervisor, and then to the role of manager.  Shortly after transitioning from Motorola to a local government agency where she saw firsthand the power of technology to improve quality of life, her love and passion for community and technology were born, and she has never looked back.  

“Rising from help desk support to CIO has been a challenging and rewarding journey that I have been extremely fortunate and privileged to travel.  It has truly given me a platform to make a difference in the community, fulfilling my passion for service and paving the way for others from backgrounds similar to mine,” sums up Tamecka.

Acing her Role

For Tamecka, the most rewarding aspects of her role as CIO, besides improving the quality of life for the residents through technological solutions, are the enabling of personal growth and professional development of the team members she gets the privilege to lead.  When she started the CIO role at the City of Fort Lauderdale, many of her team members were disengaged and checked out.  In fact, the ITS department had over 55% staff turnover, 3 CIOs in 3 years, 5 Police IT Managers in 5 years, and several anonymous letters regularly filed with Human Resources. The team was fractured and disconnected.  However, through “Servant-Leadership” and a people-first approach, in less than three years, she has seen employee satisfaction improve by 60% and training and professional development up by over 261%.  The core team has been intentional about bringing the team together, creating a more inclusive environment, and building trusted relationships with staff.  

“We filled the vacant positions and went from the department of ‘no’ to the department where folks are volunteering (unpaid) just to be a part of the magic!  We’ve fostered coaching, mentoring, and a collaborative culture, which has transformed the department into a place where people can grow and develop personally and professionally,” shares Tamecka.

Secondly, being a double minority in the tech industry, Tamecka takes great pride in showing others who look like her the possibilities despite stereotypes and presumed roles.  Most recently, she has enjoyed challenging the status quo and empowering a resilient team that has made the impossible happen these past few years at the City of Fort Lauderdale.  She believes they (technology professionals) have more power than they know to change the world.  Most recently, they’ve empowered the administrative staff who previously felt excluded from technology career advancement to implement their first asset management program as well as take a more assertive role in implementing change management for the organization. 

“I have been told that they feel heard, seen, appreciated, and valued for the first time and are excited about contributing to the team outside of standard administrative work.  I frequently take advantage of opportunities to speak on Women in Tech and how we can all advocate for more diversity in STEM,” says Tamecka.

Leveraging Technology for Smooth City Operations

The City of Fort Lauderdale uses technology to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and provide value to the neighborhoods.  Through digital transformation, the city has been able to improve the building permitting process, leveraging FIXIT-FTL, a mobile app allowing neighbors to quickly and easily report non-emergency issues like potholes, flooding, and code enforcement issues.  One initiative Tamecka is extremely proud of is the leveraging of the GIS Rapid Impact Assessment tool, led by the GIS Team , which was instrumental in expediting the federal emergency declaration, thereby releasing over $30 million in funding to the devastated neighbors after the one-in-a-thousand-year flood.  This has only been done once in the nation’s history at the city level.  

Lastly, one of the recent community outreach initiatives includes providing cybersecurity training for the seniors and civic associations in partnership with FLPD.  This has been an extremely important added value, considering Florida is one of the top states in the nation for fraud against the elderly, according to the FBI.

A second is the City’s 2025 Smart 20 Award-winning Homeless Outreach Community Services Application led by the Data & Digital Services team.  This application assists the Homeless Outreach team in tracking and providing social services for some of the vulnerable community members and was recognized at the SmartCities Connect Conference and Expo last month in San Antonio, TX.

A 3rd initiative is leveraging cellular technology to address communication coverage gaps for the City’s first responders in known dead zones around the city.  Although this is not the longer-term solution, leveraging this technology has been extremely instrumental in providing communication coverage for the first responders. 

Aligning IT Services with City Goals

One of the strategic priorities Tamecka implemented as the city’s first African American CIO was their annual State of ITS address.  This event is preceded by an annual business vision survey, which gains insights by understanding the pain points of each of the business units (departments) on an individual basis.  This information is then calculated in an algorithm, creating a scorecard which they use for discussion and review, as well as informing the goals and priorities for the next year.  

Although they still have a long way to go in achieving IT Service Excellence delivery, Tamecka feels the new collaborative, business-focused, and customer-oriented approach has started transitioning the view of IT from “break-fix” internal service to a strategic business partner driving innovation and efficiency throughout the organization. 

Decisions during Crises

Tamecka believes decision-making should be inclusive and informative.  In other words, bring the data and your friends!  The best decisions are made with access to as much relevant information as possible and as many diverse perspectives as possible.  For this to happen, there must be a culture of inclusivity, transparency, and best practices.  This doesn’t happen by accident or overnight and takes time, effort, and consistency to create.  During the disastrous flood recovery efforts, they held team meetings several times throughout the day, ensuring everyone had a seat at the table and communication was consistent.  This not only allowed the team to grow closer together but also to effectively restore city services within days, which would have taken months.  

Additional factors included the IT Transformation journey of best practices, industry standards, as well as accountability and fostering collaboration, which had all been lacking before.   Lastly, she saw team members step up like never before, which led to career advancement, professional development, and the acknowledgement of the tremendous impact they had when they pulled their resources together as opposed to the previously fractured and siloed culture.  

“Although you can never plan for every single scenario, understanding organizational priorities (which we capitalized on by conducted the city’s first Business Impact Analysis immediately after the event) as well as building trust within the team can result in effective crises management even in unprecedented scenarios like the 2023 flood and emergency data center evacuations,” says Tamecka.

Trends Shaping IT in Municipal Services

Going by the current trends, Tamecka foresees AI and Cybersecurity as the focus of the future for municipal services, in addition to the “do more with less” expectation that will always be a theme.  As we move into the future, leveraging the power of AI to course correct, predict, and enhance public service, municipal governments will need to prioritize strategic technology investments in both tools and people.  Disaster recovery and business continuity will also be critical, considering the threat of climate change and cyberattacks.  As our dependencies on technology increase, so will our risks in protecting information and services.  Government leaders, she feels, will need to find a balance between acceptable risks and the cost of data protection.

The second trend is partnership.  Tamecka’s team has been able to complete monumental achievements in modernizing the city’s aging infrastructure because of the strong partnerships they have with their vendors.  AIP US, LLC (aip-us.com) is one of the strong partnerships they have and has assisted them in upgrading the city’s entire fleet of outdated network equipment including the Police Department’s legacy virtual farm in record time.  Having partners that understand local government procurement and the flexibility required in meeting public sector needs is crucial.  This has allowed Tamecka and her team to reduce the city’s cybersecurity posture and start building the block of leveraging SmartCities technology to improve public services.  Local government continues to have limited resources, and as technology becomes more integrated and complex, having a strong network of reliable partners will be key in moving agencies forward.  

“We’ve leveraged these partnerships to consolidate 5 disparate data centers, upgrade the aging infrastructure, and improve our cybersecurity posture,” she says.

Staying Ahead of Emerging Technologies

Tamecka regularly participates in several IT communities, including the Florida Local Government Information Systems Association (FLGISA), the CIO Council, the Society of Information Management, and South Florida CIO.  Additionally, she volunteers to speak at events, participates on boards, and is a lifelong learner.  Finally, she subscribes to several publications and journals to stay in the know.  

“Most recently, I attended an event where I had the chance to network with other IT Professionals from all over the world.  It is amazing to know that, as far apart and as different as we are, many of our challenges are the same,” she shares.

Advice for Aspiring Professionals

To aspiring IT professionals, Tamecka says:

“Find your Why!  This isn’t the most glamorous role, and at times it can be thankless.  However, the intrinsic value of being a solution provider to social challenges and the role of enabling people to live happy, healthy, and productive lives are more than what money can buy.  I wake up everyday thinking about how I can better serve our community, and that gives me great pride.  Considering the ubiquitous nature of technology in our current digital economy, I believe you can find a way to leverage technology in anything you find passion for.  Art, Health, Education, Government, Business, Sports, Social Services – they all have technology components and/or opportunities to leverage technology for service enhancement.  One recent example that comes to mind is a health organization leveraging AI to flag emergency room visits for potential sex-trafficking victims.  Another example is the integration of two separate databases that identified a foster child who’d been placed in a home with a known predator.  Lastly, the invention of a special cooler, used to keep vaccinations cold during transport to extremely remote areas, thereby reducing the number of children dying from disease. It is a great time to be a technologist!”

Goals Ahead

The future for the City of Fort Lauderdale will be led by Tamecka’s IT Assistant Director, as she will be transitioning to a new organization later next month.  She recommended her as the successor because of her extensive experience and partnership during the IT Transformation, including modernization of the City’s legacy hardware and software.  They share the same values and vision for continuing the journey of transforming IT from the break-fix internal service provider to becoming a strategic business partner with community impact by leveraging digital transformation, AI, SmartCities technology, and building a high-performing team acutely aligned with the City of Fort Lauderdale’s priorities.”

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