Simon Bernie: Architecting Strategic IT Solutions

Driving growth and innovation across APAC and EMEA to the world, guiding high-performing teams to deliver strategic business solutions.
When a company faces a crossroads, the choices made can define its future. The pressure to make the right decision, to balance innovation with results, can feel immense. Simon Bernie has spent over 33 years guiding organizations through those moments, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

From Finance to Healthcare, FMCG, Web Services, and Supply Chain, Simon has built a career creating solutions that make a real difference. He leads teams with clarity and empathy, ensuring every member feels empowered to contribute their best. For him, leadership means building trust, fostering collaboration, and delivering results that last.

As Senior Vice President at Teceze, Simon oversees global business operations. His experience in international leadership and strategic execution allows him to align teams and processes toward outcomes that exceed expectations. Colleagues see him as a steady presence who blends expertise with a human touch, creating partnerships that thrive over time.

Simon’s journey includes key roles at organizations such as Coca-Cola Amatil, World Wide Technology, and Dell Technologies. Each position gave him opportunities to innovate, scale operations, and enhance customer experiences. His focus has always been on combining strategic thinking with practical execution, ensuring every initiative creates meaningful impact.

For Simon, transformation comes from understanding both people and processes. His approach proves that leadership is about connecting vision with action, guiding teams through uncertainty, and fostering environments where ideas flourish. His career demonstrates that consistent dedication, thoughtful strategy, and human insight can turn challenges into milestones, shaping organizations that succeed across markets and continents.

Forming Leadership Through Cross-Border Collaboration

Working with teams across different countries has profoundly formed Simon’s perspective as a global leader. His journey began in New Zealand, gradually expanding to the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, and eventually to a worldwide scope. A pivotal moment occurred when he relocated to Singapore, where Australian colleagues perceived him as an outsider. This experience highlighted the importance of presence and perception in influencing others.

More recently, he led the launch of a technology solution for the visually impaired in Indonesia and Malaysia. Although the cultures share similarities, subtle differences in language and business approach required careful adaptation. Simon observed that Indonesia and Malaysia often follow established practices, while Singaporean teams adopt a more directive style.

By embracing local dynamics and understanding cultural nuances, Simon has cultivated a leadership style that is adaptable, grounded, and sensitive to diverse perspectives. Each cross-border experience has refined his ability to guide teams effectively while respecting regional differences.

The Transformation of Modern Leadership

Leadership has shifted from a structure based on authority to one centered on purpose and people. Across generations, from Baby Boomers to the emerging Alpha workforce, employees seek leaders who are authentic, inclusive, and clear about their intentions. Success today relies on guiding with reasoning and setting an example rather than relying on title or power.

During challenging situations, qualities such as composure, empathy, and openness define effective leadership. The strongest leaders build trust through consistency, integrity, and a vision that inspires teams across cultures and generations.

Turning Challenges into Success Through Transformational Leadership

Managing teams across the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and Alaska presented complex scheduling challenges. Simon chose to take the most difficult meeting times, such as midnight or early morning, to demonstrate commitment and support. This gesture encouraged team members to engage actively and take ownership of their responsibilities.

As a result, the team achieved higher productivity without expanding headcount. For Simon, transformational leadership is about empowering individuals and fostering trust. When team members feel recognized and respected, they perform at their best, creating lasting and meaningful growth.

Empowering Lives Through Smart Technology

Simon is most excited about a project involving smart glasses created for individuals with sensory challenges, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired. These innovative glasses combine AI and AR technologies on an Android platform, using cameras, sensors, microphones, and speakers within a tailored ecosystem of applications. They assist with navigation, object recognition, and descriptive guidance.

Currently being introduced in Indonesia and Malaysia, with plans for Singapore, Simon’s work focuses on restoring independence, confidence, and dignity, turning technology into a tool for meaningful human impact.

Defining Success Through Impact

Success carries a deeper meaning than numbers, targets, or titles. It reflects the ability to make a lasting, human-centered difference. Simon believes that true achievement lies in witnessing the growth and advancement of others.

He recalls mentoring a woman who rose to the position of CIO, a milestone that exemplifies the kind of impact he values. For him, leadership is about helping individuals expand their skills, confidence, and influence, so they leave every experience stronger, wiser, and better prepared for future challenges.

Building a Lasting Impact

Legacy reflects the influence and values that remain after an individual moves on. Simon hopes to leave behind a record of fostering understanding in complex situations, enabling others to take initiative, and creating environments where diverse voices thrive. Throughout his career, he has focused on earning trust, guiding emerging talent, and inspiring positive change. His approach centers on helping others develop their potential, ensuring that growth and leadership extend well beyond his own presence.

A key piece of advice Simon shares for emerging leaders is to prioritize clarity, empathy, and empowerment. By guiding teams with purpose and encouraging collaborative growth, leaders can create lasting influence and meaningful contributions that endure over time.

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