GET TO KNOW
Obtaining a C-level position is not an objective per se .
If you could go back and change one career decision what would it be ?
As I mentioned , we shifted from our original hypergrowth development strategy to a sustainable one and if I could change something I would have started with a sustainable model right from the beginning of Bonitasoft . I know now it ’ s almost impossible to combine hyper-growth with excellence , efficiency and sustainability .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
I see the process automation market entering the third stage of its maturity : process analytics ( the first two being process execution and low-code development ). There is still a lot of room for improvement in the way we can help digital automation platform users collect , analyse and optimise process execution data to make better decisions and anticipate inefficiencies .
Another important investment area relates to the current state of maturity ( low-code development ), especially in everything that relates to collaboration and governance in process automation projects . Good low-code tools allow ‘ citizen ’ developers to work side by side with professional developers – in addition to giving those developers a wider array of tools – and while this collaboration is a great advantage for innovation , it ’ s also a way to be sure that both internally and externally driven guard rails are applied and followed .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in North America ?
We find that our partner strategy is important in North America . Our certified partners know the Bonita platform technically inside and out , and they know their market ’ s needs and unique aspects when it comes to automation projects – for example , we have a major US-based pharmaceutical client , and our partner is well acquainted with the specificities of integrating a wide array of lab equipment used for pharma research and drug discovery .
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 ?
While Bonitasoft was an early adopter of ‘ work from wherever you are ’ and I was working from home well before the Covid pandemic , I found that suddenly not having the option to meet face-to-face with other people ( both internally and externally ) was particularly challenging in two situations :
• Our annual kickoff and all-hands-together meetings where we used to take a week to talk about strategy and key projects and also have some fun together . This past year we moved the kickoff to all on-line sessions . We had an excellent event according to the feedback , but I will appreciate our next in-person , all-company get together even more !
• Our planning workshops in which we collaborate and brainstorm together . Video conferences work well to an extent , but I still prefer to do some creative brainstorming in person .
I think we ’ re all looking forward to when we ’ ll be able to have the option of in-person get-togethers again . I miss chatting with folks about their personal and professional thoughts over coffee , a glass of wine or a video game .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
I offer the same advice I would offer to a CEO : don ’ t pretend to be someone you are not ; listen to other people and learn from them ; and work hard but be authentic and uniquely yourself .
And remember , obtaining a C-level position is not an objective per se . This position is all about the content , not the container . p
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