GET TO KNOW together in the same physical space – an office or a conference room . Then COVID-19 arrived and everything went remote . Now , we ’ re seeing lots of hybrid use cases , where some people are in the room and some are elsewhere . So the big question is , how do you ensure everyone is engaged at the same level ? From a technology perspective , it involves the merging of AV and ICT into a single solution . ours are building up their capabilities in software and services , so they can offer a complete solution that helps customers achieve business outcomes , as well as technical ones .
What are the region specific challenges when implementing new technologies in APAC ?
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
It ’ s an important question when your office is also your home , as it has been for most people in Singapore during the past 16 months . Since COVID-19 , I ’ ve started practising yoga and that ’ s one way to unwind . I also try to be quite structured with my agenda and make sure it includes break times . During the first lockdown last year , I just sat on my chair in video conferences for hours and hours . That ’ s not sustainable and the experience made me more mindful about the need to switch off . In normal circumstances , I love getting out with family and friends .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
It ’ s hard to think of anything I ’ d do differently , if I had the chance of an Adam Sandler-style ‘ Do-Over ’. In fact , there ’ s one career decision I ’ m very glad I did make … After a decade on the CIO track , I took a sideways step into mergers and acquisitions , carrying out due diligence on potential takeover targets . That got me out of the technical space and into the business management stream and that ’ s where I ’ ve remained . At the time , it was a big jump – and one not many IT people make – but it resulted in a lot of learning and a lot of fun . That ’ s not to say I didn ’ t enjoy my time on the frontline . I did , but potentially doing it for another 30 years felt a bit limiting .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
Historically , audio-visual was a very hardware focused industry but that ’ s changing rapidly . Companies like
The diversity of the region is a big one . APAC is more of a concept than a reality because it ’ s made up of developed and emerging nations and they have quite different needs . You have to be able to address the high end and the entry level simultaneously . And because there are so many cultures and languages , it ’ s a complex go-to-market . Reaching all the customers across the region calls for a complex network of partners and sales people .
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 ?
Last year , Barco launched an internal ‘ start-up ’– a SaaS offering focusing on the education sector – and I was appointed global sales lead . Building that business has been a huge focus for me and will remain so over the next 12 months . The subscription market is something quite new for us and we ’ re having to learn to do a lot of things differently . Along with other senior leaders , I ’ m also focused on developing our services business , so it accounts for a greater proportion of our revenue .
What advice would you offer to someone aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
During my career , I ’ ve worked with high growth businesses and survived tougher times , when sales have slumped . The first is more fun but both experiences are equally valuable . Being prepared to weather the ups and downs – and to learn from them – is important .
My other advice is to think about your career as ‘ growing a tree ’. Build up a solid foundation of knowledge – I spent 10 years working in ICT and was subsequently able to leverage those skills in other roles – and then branch out into areas that interest you . Some people try to do that too quickly and the tree isn ’ t stable . And , while networking has its uses , my approach has always been to win strong sponsors through high performance . If people know you and trust you because they ’ ve seen you deliver , they ’ ll want you along on the journey with them . p
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