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Acquiring deep industry skills and understanding the market dynamics are key to serve the customers objectives .
pandemic , Digital Transformation rose to the top on C-Level decision makers ’ agendas and became a key differentiator in helping them achieve their business objectives faster and in a more efficient manner .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
I try to disconnect from work after 7pm at maximum unless it is an urgent matter that can ’ t wait to the next day . I am an early bird and try to enjoy time in the morning with the kids , playing golf , or hitting the gym for a quick workout . Also paying attention to good and balanced nutrition from food and supplements is of a great help .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
Very interesting question and not an easy one to answer . Reflecting on my career , I have always planned my career in 5-year cycles , and I was blessed to achieve my objectives for the last four cycles . Having said that , I would not want to change any decisions that I have made along the way . My advice would be to always embrace every opportunity and interaction and look at it while asking yourself : what can I learn from it ?
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
As Digital Transformation initiatives accelerate ; OT cyber risk exposures keep growing . Hence , organisations are constantly looking for innovative ways to combat the adversaries to safeguard their assets . Organisations that manage to achieve those objectives can continue focusing on their core business functions and operational processes in a secure manner .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in the Middle East ?
Governments have made massive investments in Digital Transformation strategies and initiatives across all sectors including critical Infrastructure . However , the regulations in some sectors are still behind , which leaves gray areas for interpretation and at times imposes challenges to adopt new innovations with speed and agility .
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 ?
Customers usually seek the help of vendors to advise them on the best course of action to achieve their business objectives . In my view , acquiring deep industry skills and understanding the market dynamics are key to serve the customers objectives . I started my career in the technical field before moving to sales and general management years later . The technical start has always given me an advantage in every customer interaction and helped me be positioned as a trusted advisor to them .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain C-level position in your industry ?
First , understanding a C-Level role is not a gift or a blessing ; rather it is a responsibility over others and accountability for the line of business you would be overseeing . Building strong industry skills is a key differentiator and will significantly contribute to their success running a business in an executive leadership capacity . Lastly and it is my favourite , treating people as humans not numbers . A successful C-Level executive should see growth through the eyes of their team members and share every moment with them . p
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