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implement new technologies in Europe.
It can take a lot of time to plan, localise
and adapt, and not all businesses are
sufficiently prepared for this process.
What changes to your job role
have you seen in the last year and
how do you see these developing
in the next 12 months?
“
2018 HAS SEEN
A BIG FOCUS ON
SKILLS GAPS
WITHIN THE TECH
INDUSTRY AND I
CAN’T SEE THAT
ISSUE GOING
ANYWHERE
ANYTIME SOON.
capital that businesses possess is their
people and the apps they run. Leaving them
open to attack isn’t an option.
What do you currently identify as
the major areas of investment in
your industry?
2018 has seen a big focus on skills gaps
within the tech industry and I can’t see
that issue going anywhere anytime soon.
There is so much demand for talent that
organisations are all pursuing the same
prospects. Unfortunately, people often
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INTELLIGENTCIO
forget that recruitment and development
are two entirely different things. The current
available talent pool is clearly limited in its
scalability, so 2019 will require a big reset
in terms of how companies enrich their
teams, including becoming more effective in
nurturing and empowering existing staff.
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside of the office?
I have three kids plus a couple of dogs, so it
is usually quite hectic outside the office. We
spend a lot of time together and one of my
favourite pastimes is taking a family stroll
around Windsor Great Park.
If you could go back and change one
career decision, what would it be?
I went to primary school with a guy named
Lawrence and one of my biggest career
regrets is not giving him a call to say I would
go and work for his company. That might
not mean much to you now, but it might if
I tell you he is now known as Larry Page, the
Co-founder of Google.
The pace of change in public cloud has
significantly altered my job role. It’s now
even more important to remain vigilant
and keep pace with technological shifts
to give me a crystal-clear understanding
of industry trends. One of F5’s key
philosophical drivers is to obsess over our
customers’ needs, so we need to be on
the absolute cutting edge when it comes
to our insight, counsel and support. The
changes in public cloud only continue to
accelerate, which means next year will
entail a lot of homework to ensure we stay
ahead of the curve and continue to evolve
with value-adding purpose.
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain C-level/
executive position in your industry?
The best way forward is to seek out the
projects that will create the most impact
and learn to filter out the noise. As you
rise through the ranks, you also need to
effectively delegate as you take on more
strategic roles. Never get complacent.
Throughout your career journey, it is
important to adapt your approach to work
and leadership. For example, I once read
a book called Never Check E-Mail in the
Morning: And Other Unexpected Strategies
for Making Your Work Life Work. Emails are a
great form of communication, but they can
also be at the heart of a lack of productivity.
The more emails you send, the more people
will reply. The key is to always stay focused,
empathetic and open-minded. n
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in Europe?
Data privacy and localisation are big
challenges for companies when they
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