GET TO KNOW
I ’ M A KEEN ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER , SO WHEN I ’ M NOT WORKING ( AND WHEN IT ’ S NOT CLOUDY ) THAT KEEPS ME FOCUSED AND BUSY !
to McKinsey . There ’ s no hiding from the fact that it ’ s what employees want – our research found that 42 % of office workers said hybrid gave them a better worklife balance and a third said it made them more productive . This transition has been completely underpinned by technology .
The pandemic has fast-tracked Digital Transformation and both organisations and employees are having to get used to the new technology that comes working . Tools that enable communication and collaboration and drive greater productivity and efficiency are essential to the future of work , no matter the industry . In addition , solutions that give IT leaders insights and data are critical to keeping track of what technology is being used , by who and how often . Such insights are essential to effectively managing a distributed , hybrid workforce .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside of the office ?
A bit of a niche hobby , but I ’ m a keen astrophotographer , so when I ’ m not working ( and when it ’ s not cloudy ) that keeps me focused and busy ! It ’ s a great way to unwind and keep grounded .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
Nothing . I believe all the decisions we make – both good and bad – contribute to getting you where you are today and I ’ m happy where I am !
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 ?
I think the CTO role is now often as much about the product as it is about technology . Modern CTOs aren ’ t just techies – they ’ re product people too and I view my role as more ‘ CTPO ’ in light of this . As Acumen continues to develop , my role will become more about linking the back-end technical engineering side with the front-end solution and business outcomes – looking at what else our customers want and how we can incorporate that into our platform . with a ‘ work anywhere ’ culture . Meanwhile , organisations who spent hard and fast on new technology during the pandemic are now realising this level of spending has become unsustainable and unmanageable for IT teams .
With this in mind , the new trend going forward will be a shift in focus towards optimising these digital assets to maximise employee success while still controlling costs .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
Find a good mentor that you can learn from – someone who inspires you and you can emulate – and show them you are prepared to put the hard work in . Equally , remember to bring your own take to the role – trust your gut feeling as much as using the help that is around you ! x
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
Key areas of investment are focused on technologies that support and facilitate hybrid
64 www . intelligentcxo . com