A self-described ‘techie’ and ‘curious learner’, Obey, Redefine Properties’ head of information systems, constantly pursues growth. The MBA candidate’s background in commerce and his drive to innovate make him the kind of leader all businesses need: a strategic, big-picture thinker. He shares why he deploys new technology gradually – and that IT doesn’t bite.
After studying a BSc CSIT at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, followed by a BCom honours in business informatics, Obey, Redefine Properties’ head of information systems began his career as a business analyst at State Information Technology Agency (SITA), a governmental organisation that manages the State’s IT resources.
His love for tech and problem-solving would see him become a software engineer and team lead at Investec, where he would spend seven years. With a keen need to develop his business acumen, he completed a post-graduate diploma in business administration at Wits in 2018. A stint in telecoms and freelancing led him to his current position as head of IT at Redefine Properties, a JSE-listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that manages about R100 billion property asset platform, where he has been for nearly three years.
CIOs are brokers connecting technology and business
Obey reports to Redefine CFO Ntobeko Nyawo. He believes the role of a CIO in a modern workforce should encompass great business acumen and strategic thinking, the same way a CEO and CFO would operate. He emphasises that, for him, the CEO role is more closely aligned with what a CIO does, which is why he is doing an executive MBA through the Quantic School of Business and Technology.
“As IT people, we pride ourselves as change-makers and solution-enablers. By adopting this big-picture mindset in your daily role as a CIO, you can better understand the perspectives of various departments, and individuals, fostering stronger collaboration,” explains Obey.
“I see the CIO role as a broker of sorts, where you connect technology with the business's objectives. Sometimes, whether it’s through an application or a conversation, this mindset provides valuable insights. Having worked across different sectors, I’ve gained a comprehensive understanding of how businesses operate.”
‘Technology is here to elevate us’
According to Obey, Redefine owns, develops, and manages properties. The company’s portfolio comprises about approximately 250 local properties primarily spread across South Africa’s major metros. Redefine operates within the office, retail, and industrial spaces. “We also have an international presence, operating in the retail and logistics sectors in Poland,” adds Obey.
Obey says that, as head of IT, he has a digital transformation mandate. To accomplish this, he needs to understand the business inside and out, as it fundamentally aims to transform the tenant’s experience over time.
“The Redefine of yesterday laid a strong foundation, and today we’re embracing cutting-edge technological innovation to drive our future forward,” says Obey. “Now we enable the business to operate more efficiently and leverage technology through strategic partnerships. We have a long-standing partnership with Microsoft SA and our tech stack is built on that.”
According to Obey, because Redefine is still on a digital transformation journey, one of his biggest challenges has come in the form of feedback. “While we strive for speed, we’ve learnt that we must bring people along on the journey, ensuring no one is left behind. It’s a challenge of effective change management, and it’s an important one. Along the way, we also need to reassure people that technologies like AI aren’t here to replace them — they’re here to empower and elevate us.”
Embracing AI for security and efficiency
Obey shares that Redefine is rolling out several innovative projects. One is cutting-edge smartphone-driven, facial recognition, and QR codes access control. “This integration establishes a new benchmark for secure and seamless entry, further solidifying Redefine’s reputation as a leader in property management; it's a seamless guest experience,” adds Obey. “We’re striving to create the smartest and most sustainable spaces the world has ever known."
For Obey, a significant part of Redefine’s digital transformation hinges on data: its credibility, accessibility, security, and governance.
“We are fully on the cloud, unlocking new levels of efficiency and collaboration. The transition to various cloud platforms has been widely embraced, and our ongoing campaigns are empowering teams to take full advantage of these powerful capabilities. More and more people are joining the journey, recognising the benefits of seamless workflows and strengthened security.”
Obey notes that automation is also top of mind. His team is overhauling internal processes and using low code to solve problems. They are exploring a variety of AI use cases with the aim of utilising AI across different business areas to improve stakeholder experiences.
“We're living in an era of OpenAI/GenAI where information is easily accessible, but we aimed to develop our own AI solutions leveraging Redefine's data,” explains Obey. “Employees can now interact with a Redefine bot to easily access information, and similarly, our stakeholders can engage with the Redefine bot, ‘Redi,’ through our website for seamless communication, available 24/7. As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, we leverage AI within our cybersecurity stack to predict behaviours and block malicious attacks. We’re also adopting AI-powered tools like Copilot to enhance productivity. We're taking a steady approach, ensuring a smooth and gradual integration every step of the way.”
Obey adds that, funnily enough, his team now has a backlog of requests from teams asking them to automate processes and find solutions for specific technological needs. “That's exactly what we want – IT doesn't bite!” he laughs.
Books, biking, and bringing knowledge back
In his free time, Obey cycles during the week and mountain bikes when he can. If he’s not in the saddle, he’s taking walks, listening to music, or studying for his MBA. He has a decent collection of books with far too many 'to read'. His current read? The Wisdom of Crowds by New Yorker business columnist James Surowiecki, which explores why large groups of people might just be smarter than an elite few. “I read a lot about leadership and self-development,” adds Obey. “I'm not a fiction, movie, or series guy.”
On his MBA, Obey says it is a strategy-heavy programme, and he’s enjoying the ability to connect with like-minded people around the world (the programme is international).
“I’d like to bring that knowledge back and implement what I've learnt,” says Obey. “I’d also like to grow as a leader so I can know my strengths and where I need to improve. Overall, the MBA will give me a solid understanding of working within the business and enhance my contribution towards delivering a future-fit Redefine,” he concludes.
