Carol Barden - A Biography

Carol Barden is an E-Business Consultant whose passion is helping people implement technologies that will enhance and grow their business.

Carol Barden is an E-Business Consultant whose passion is helping people implement technologies that will enhance and grow their business. “My reward comes when the client has used the right tool to do the job and achieves their business goals as a result of it.”

Carol hails from California and worked in San Jose, California, a.k.a. the Silicon Valley (home of Intel and the Internet) for 25 years. Her love of new and exciting technologies started when she went to work for Atari (the gaming company) as a Business Analyst. During her five years with the company she gained several promotions within the company and served as Division Systems Administrator and Project Team Leader in manufacturing.

Carol moved on to join Apple Computer in 1984 as an MIS Analyst working closely with the team that launched the first Macintosh computer. “It was an extremely exciting time to be in the industry. It was clear the new emerging technologies would not only create new business opportunities but offer huge costs savings against using traditional industry processes.”

Around this time, Carol’s ardent support of rugby led her to cross paths with some Kiwis that were on their way to doing their OE in Europe. At that time the computer industry had taken a downturn so Carol decided to take a year off and travel to Europe with her new Kiwi friends.

After returning from Europe, she carried on and arrived in New Zealand. Loving the country and wanting to extend her stay she managed to sweet-talk Immigration to do so and obtained a work permit. “ Ten days later I was working for Apple Computer (C.E.D. Enterprises) conducting Macintosh hardware and software training for 43 Dealers around NZ. The job required traveling around NZ so I not only had a great job but I got to see a lot of the country”.

In 1985, Carol was recruited away from Apple Computer and joined Brimaur Computer Services as Sales Manager selling software in the Macintosh division. It was her first Sales job but she excelled and was promoted to Sales Manager, Macintosh Division. “I was encouraged into this role by the owner of the company, Mr. Brian Eardley-Wilmot and I shall be forever thankful to him for it. Brian saw my potential as a salesperson and gave me an opportunity that set the pace for my future in the industry.”

In 1988 a near fatal illness in the family required Carol return to the States. Unable to return to NZ she worked for major players in the IT and software field, broadening her experience.

In 2000, Carol reconnected with her Kiwi sweetheart, Geoff. “Geoff and I met and dated back in 1988 when I lived in NZ. When I had to return to the States we stayed connected as friends. Over the years we ensured Telecom was making a good profit!” Over time Carol realized where her heart belonged and she returned to NZ and married Geoff. Once settled back in Auckland she joined Telecom as a Business Analyst for a year and then moved into a contract Consulting role in the wireless industry with ECONZ. Carol then joined Zeald.com and has been with them for the past year.

Carol believes her role as E-Business Consultant at Zeald.com has been yet another favorable aspect of her returning to NZ. “I have a top notch product to sell, I’m working with a talented team at Zeald.com and I get to work in an exciting and constantly changing market. The combination suits my personal philosophy of placing appropriate technology into the business flow and seeing the client appreciating a good ROI.”

Based in Auckland, Carol and Geoff enjoy fishing, golf and looking after the bach & vege garden in the Coromandel on weekends. “The house is usually full of friends and family…just the way we like it!”