GET TO KNOW
There ’ s nothing positive about the pandemic but one of its side effects has been the way it ’ s pushed organizations to embrace automation .
digital technologies are not new but until COVID struck there were plenty of laggards . That ’ s changed utterly over the last few months . ‘ Innovate or exit ’ is the new catch cry and we ’ re seeing companies belatedly – and urgently – looking for opportunities to automate across every aspect of their operations .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
Finding time to unwind has been a priority for me over the past 12 months . I block off 90 minutes first thing in the morning or late in the evening and take a yoga class , head to the gym or run . Yoga I found tough at first – my mind was never at ease – but I ’ ve stuck with it and it ’ s been really beneficial , mentally and physically . Getting some balance in your life is incredibly important and I ’ ve come to realize it ’ s also quite doable . If you ’ re efficient , a solid eight or 10 hours a day should be more than enough time to manage your team , your clients and your business . Not bringing your phone to the bedside is also wise !
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
There was a ‘ fork in the road ’ moment back in 2004 which occasionally makes me wonder ‘ what if ?’ The head of ING Private Banking was a client and he suggested I ’ d make a good relationship manager . At the time , I didn ’ t give it too much thought . There was a lot going on in the digital space and I honestly thought investment banking would be boring by comparison – selling financial products to people . I developed a better understanding of the industry over the years and if I had my time again , it ’ s possible I might consider my options a little more thoroughly .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
People . So many companies are in a tech frenzy at the moment . They want to automate , digitize , adopt new applications to help them stay ahead . None of that can happen if you don ’ t have the right talent on board . That ’ s why we haven ’ t laid anyone off at BlackLine through the pandemic – we believe a strong team will be critical to success over the next few years .
What are the region specific challenges when implementing new technologies in APAC ?
Adoption is the on-going one . Australia and New Zealand are mature markets when it comes to ICT but some ASEAN countries , such as Indonesia and The Philippines , are less ready to embrace new technologies , or they lack the infrastructure to support them . For that reason , we don ’ t always have access to some of the really cool start-ups and solutions coming out of Silicon Valley – the opportunity and demand aren ’ t there to support them investing in establishing a presence in our region .
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 ?
COVID has made me engage with my team differently . It ’ s been a tough time for a lot of people and we ’ ve talked extensively about mental wellbeing , as well as work . Not everyone in our part of the world has the luxury of living in a house ; a lot of people in Asia are in apartments with extended families and being in lockdown can be pretty claustrophobic . Looking ahead , COVID doesn ’ t look like going away any time soon but I see next year being one of great change . Our company is expanding and I ’ ll be looking to hire people who are resilient and resourceful and ready to tackle the wave of opportunities we see coming our way .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
Learn to look beyond the pitch you ’ re presenting or the solution you ’ re selling . Understanding the challenges and needs of the customer will help you engage more effectively with senior decision makers and get you a lot further . I ’ m also a big believer in helping people in your network whenever you can , without expecting to get something back straightaway . Have that meeting or coffee , do that favor . It ’ s a small world and people remember . If you ’ ve paid it forward , others will do the same to you . p
80 INTELLIGENTCIO APAC www . intelligentcio . com