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When I was eight years old , my parents bought me a Commodore 64 . However , they didn ’ t buy me any games , so the only way I could have fun with it was by learning how to program .
making rapid adjustments ; and being outcomedriven for all stakeholders , especially customers , employees , investors and partners .
What do you think has emerged as the technology trend of 2021 and why ?
For many years now , cybersecurity has been one of the biggest trends and 2021 accelerated this as we all conducted even more of our lives and work through online applications . Every single industry is transformed by online technology and every single online technology has cybersecurity issues . Society as a whole has barely scratched the surface in understanding the scope of these issues , so I see continued acceleration in all aspects of cybersecurity .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
Some of the biggest macrotrends in the industry are cybersecurity , Artificial Intelligence , Edge and cloud computing . These are all areas that are changing not only the way we think about technology , but how we approach the world . We are making big investments in these areas ourselves at F5 . In cybersecurity and AI , of course , we have Shape , which was acquired last year . This January , we finalised the acquisition of Volterra , the first universal Edge-as-a-Service platform . Combining our portfolio of technologies is enabling us to create the first Edge platform built for enterprises that will be security-first and app-driven , with unlimited scale .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside of the office ?
To reset my thinking , I enjoy regularly turning to completely different types of challenges . I left Google in 2010 to help launch TeachAids , an educational technology nonprofit spun out of my wife ’ s doctoral research at Stanford . We build free products for difficult public health education topics , including HIV / AIDS , concussions and COVID-19 , and our software is used in 82 countries . My wife has led TeachAids as CEO from the beginning and while I don ’ t have as much time to dedicate to it as I did in the past , I continue to serve on the board and help however I can . Last year , when it became clear we were headed into a global pandemic , I had the opportunity to lead a remarkable group of young people and scientific experts at several universities through TeachAids to launch a new type of resource for education and research , called CoviDB . org . Using technology to directly help society is rewarding in a way that I find recharges and inspires me .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
One thing I might change is when I moved to Silicon Valley . I first came here when I joined Google in 2003 . That made me realise that it would have been amazing to be in the valley even earlier , especially while the web was taking off in the late 90s . I actually visited Palo Alto in the early 90s , but moving here seemed almost unattainable as a kid growing up in Canada .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in Europe ?
Data privacy regulations and expectations are often viewed as singular challenges in Europe , but I see them as new opportunities . Companies should invest in data protection and privacy controls not because legislation forces them to , but because that is what is increasingly demanded by customers and societies . Making those investments is what will ensure their long-term success . This is why robust data privacy capabilities are a core part of our approach .
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 ?
Aside from the shift to remote working , the main changes all stem from growth . Leading Artificial Intelligence and data at F5 is an incredibly fast-moving exciting area and we are scaling like a startup .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
The most insightful and concise advice I ’ ve heard is from Jack Welch , the former CEO of GE , who summarised his key to success in a single word : ‘ overdeliver ’. Whatever you ’ re expected to do , exceed those expectations . p
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