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JOHN YANG , VP , PROGRESS , APJ
John Yang , VP , Progress , APJ , speaks to us about life inside and outside of the office .
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Can you describe your current job role ?
I am the Vice President for APJ of Progress , a trusted provider of infrastructure software and a specialist in areas such as digital experiences , cybersecurity and high-impact business applications .
My number one responsibility is to ensure Progress ’ operations in APJ deliver optimal revenue and margin . But this doesn ’ t come by itself . I believe that financial gain is only an after effect of prioritising customer satisfaction and employees ' happiness , which is why people are a big priority for me .
Besides spending a lot of time on those areas , my role is to ensure that the APJ region – a big market with dispersed geography and diversified cultures – aligns with Progress ’ ambitions and goals globally .
I am also in charge ( and passionate ) about staying on top of industry trends and what customers in the region need . Technology is quickly evolving and so are our customers ’ challenges and needs , especially digital experiences . For them to succeed they need to be able to rely on technology partners that understand their specific needs and help them deploy technology that is fit for purpose and matches their broader business strategy .
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement ?
manage a new sales territory which had threequarters of continued decline , followed by the departure of the previous manager . I took the job , worked hard , turned around the decline and , three-quarters later , achieved the highest ever revenue for that territory .
There were a few times when I had to overcome similar challenges , such as starting an enterprise software business in APAC from scratch – zero customers , zero brand awareness . I always followed through and turned them into successful businesses with over hundreds of customers . These sorts of challenges are hard . But with determination and persistence , you can achieve great results , as well as learn a lot on the way , such as building resilience .
What style of management philosophy do you employ in your current position ?
My philosophy of management for leading a team is about caring , coaching , empowering and encouraging . I like to be straightforward with my team .
Years ago , I read a book called Whale Done , which was amazing . Since then , I continue to find more proof for the principles in the book , which helps me value people more .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
I have very much a ‘ fixer ’ and I don ’ t mind a challenge . Early in my career , I was assigned to
Honestly , now is a tough time for making IT investment decisions and we , as an industry , are facing a big dilemma . www . intelligentcxo . com
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