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If you could go back and change one career decision what would it be ?
If I could change one decision in my career , it would be to move to the Bay Area sooner . Silicon Valley is one of the world ’ s meccas for technology and it ’ s an incredible place to learn . It ' s where you ’ ll discover where the wind is blowing as well as find the industry ’ s most disruptive trends and innovations .
Mentorship is also a core element of the Silicon Valley ecosystem and you ' ll have opportunities to learn from some of the world ’ s best . My mentors have shaped me into the leader I am today and I attribute a lot of my success to the advice they have given me over the years . If I could go back in time , I would have booked a plane ticket the day I received my Masters so I could jump right into everything the Bay has to offer !
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
In the data protection space , there is a massive opportunity to leverage Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to solve existing and emerging customer pain points . While this technology has been around for years , the question now is if you are using it efficiently and tapping into its fullest potential . AI and ML can help solve the world ’ s most pressing security challenges by getting more predictive with ransomware attacks and simplifying the recovery process . It can also help lower costs for customers , bring agility to existing processes and deliver new insights that will push a business forward . At Druva , we have been focused on leveraging applied AI techniques and existing algorithms to our data sets of billions of data points and events to deliver intelligent recommendations , insights and prescriptive analytics to optimize data protection , governance and cyberresilience at scale . In October , we also launched Druva Curated Recovery , which leverages intelligent automation for accelerated ransomware recovery . AI brings endless opportunities to deliver value to customers , so I expect it will continue to be a key area of investment in data protection over these next three to five years .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in North America ?
As organizations adopt new technologies and expand their digital footprints , they must maintain compliance and ensure the appropriate security of data . Failing to do so will lead to costly fines , lost business opportunities and a damaged corporate reputation .
Yet , maintaining compliance amidst an ever-changing regulatory landscape has become challenging .
For example , the California Consumer Privacy Act ( CCPA ) went into effect in January 2020 and then quickly got amended by the California Privacy Rights Act ( CPRA ). Colorado , Virginia and Nevada have all passed their own privacy laws as well . At the rate we are heading , it ’ s likely every US state will have their own privacy regulation to adhere to . However , compliance with the latest legislation shouldn ’ t hold an organization back from adopting new technologies . It should be a starting point for a discussion around best practices for managing data . While it may not seem immediately intuitive , there are native capabilities and services in
the cloud that can ease the burdens and challenges of navigating these new regulations .
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year ? How do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?
Over the past year , thousands of organizations have accelerated their Digital Transformation journeys and migration to the cloud . However , the resulting data sprawl has placed new pressure to secure data against rising cyberthreats and maintain compliance against evolving regulatory frameworks . I ’ ve worked closely with our customers this year in helping them navigate this new environment and ensure their data , cyber and operational resilience needs are met .
In addition , my perspective on work and leadership has shifted . The last 18 months have taught me the importance of leading with empathy , so I ’ ve spent a lot of time listening to my teams and making sure they feel understood and supported at all times . I ’ ve also learned to strike a better work life balance and I encourage others on my teams to do the same . Just the simple act of taking a couple days off or unplugging from emails in the evenings to spend time with family will go a long way . p
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