Tech.mt CEO Dana Farrugia aims to finally crack New Year’s resolution of waking up at 5:30am

New Year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, with studies showing that more than half of people fail to stick to them.

Some people give up and try new resolutions each year in the hope of finally conquering their lack of self-discipline, but others, like Tech.mt CEO Dana Farrugia, plough on and try to achieve the same resolution each year.

“My yearly resolution year after year is to start waking up at 5.30am , something I fail at miserably and consistently, but I still choose that as my yearly resolution,” Dana says.

Dana says she spends Christmas with family, friends and loved ones, not just the ones who are near, but also the ones who are further afield.

“I’m blessed to be able to spend Christmas with those who are near, but I also like to keep the ones who are far away in my thoughts,” she says.

Dana has a traditional view of Christmas, calling it a time of appreciation, warmth and love.

“It’s a time of giving, not material things necessarily, but it’s a time that makes us stop and appreciate who we have in our lives. It’s a period that reminds us that time is precious and loved ones should be appreciated. And it’s also a time for redemption and thinking about one’s personal development,” she says.

Indeed, one’s personal development can also involve difficult times, and Dana enjoys giving gifts to those who are struggling in one way or other.

“It gives me so much joy to know that I made a difference in someone’s life thanks to a very small gesture,” she says.

As for what gifts she likes to receive, Dana strikes a diplomatic tone.

“I always appreciate Christmas gifts whatever the choice, because ultimately the person who gave me the gift still took the time to think about me during the festive season.”

As an executive in the tech industry, Dana has been at the forefront of the technological changes brought about by the pandemic.

“The sector has shown resilience and has performed positively, given the demand created by remote working and the increased reliance on digital solutions. In the second half of 2022 we hope to start seeing more momentum in technology adoption, more investment in large projects worldwide and a wider acceptance of digitalising processes and systems.”

Dana describes the past year as both challenging – she mentions the emotional rollercoaster of thinking a return to normality was close by, only for the world to be thrown backwards by yet another variant – and enlightening.

“COVID has challenged the resilience of leaders from all around the globe. It has taken leaders through a rollercoaster ride of fast and steep ups and downs. However the most important lesson that I have learned is that leadership positions are vital roles during turbulent times. During crisis periods, as a leader, one must hold on to being a resilient rationaliser to sail through a long storm and manage one’s personal energy levels well so that one can remain consistent if the storm is long term, like the impact of COVID has been.”