GET TO KNOW
“
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside the office?
I love to run. Running and exercise have
always been a constant in my life to raise
the endorphins and blast through some of
the negative thoughts. From time to time
we doubt our path and the direction we are
going. If the doubt is rational, then it needs
to be listened to, but if it is just self-doubt
then exercise is a great equaliser! Exercise
is a perfect way to distract your mind from
over-rotating on a subject, as you are thinking
more about your lungs about to burst than
your boss’s requests for more deadlines!
If you could go back and change one
career decision what would it be?
Not a thing I would change. The most
stressful time was working at start-up
companies, which were uncomfortable
at times, but they gave me the fight and
the focus to keep driving for the end goal,
which I find very useful now working at a
larger corporation.
What do you currently identify as
the major areas of investment in
your industry?
the user and the processes surrounding it, so
we need always to focus on the people and
making sure we bring them up to speed with
the capacity and the capabilities of the new
technology in play.
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?
We are investing more and more in
customer satisfaction and surveys on how
we can improve technology adoption. A
happy customer getting the return on
their investment is worth their weight in
gold and we want to make sure that all our
customers reach the largest value they can
from our technology.
FROM TIME TO
TIME WE DOUBT
OUR PATH AND
THE DIRECTION
WE ARE GOING.
IF THE DOUBT
IS RATIONAL,
THEN IT NEEDS
TO BE LISTENED
TO, BUT IF IT IS
JUST SELF-DOUBT
THEN EXERCISE
IF A GREAT
EQUALISER!
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain C-level
position in your industry? Everything you do and sometimes do not do,
prepares you to be ready for the next larger
role or challenge. Take calculated risks and
try new things. Do not be a sheep following
the guy who had the role before you. Take
the best from people and become a master
copycat, but add your own stamp, flavour
and uniqueness to your personal brand and
the way you show up every day at work.
Try to do as many different jobs during
your career, but do not move too quickly on
to the next job until you have mastered it. Above all do what you say you will do and do
it to a high quality. n
I think the Internet of Things and ‘every-
thing’ is a hugely interesting area, with
digitisation at the heart of the strategy.
This business model is great for consumers,
businesses and economies. Whether in the
business-to-business field or business-to-
consumer field, the investment is huge at
this time.
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in the Middle East?
Always I think it is around skills shortage and
specialism. Technology is only as good as
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