DEEP DIVE
take a look at the end goal,
role play the options and
tackle it head on.
If you could go
back and change one
career decision what
would it be?
I don’t think I would change
anything. Things happen for a
reason and its always important
not to have regrets or think you
have made mistakes – you may
have made the wrong decision
but that’s because you now have
the benefit of hindsight. Treat
everything as an experience and
keep using that experience to
make better decisions.
What do you currently
identify as the major areas
of investment in your
industry?
This is an interesting question and
one that normally and historically
has been around technology. In the
last 12 months, I have seen a real and
tangible shift into the skills agenda.
We have engaged with a large number
(20+) of the world’s leading data centre
providers/operators on multi-year talent
and education programs. It has been so
refreshing to talk about development,
retention and longevity and for us to be
able to work with companies and know
that these programs will last for years
and years to come and leave a legacy
which will benefit every single person in
the industry, as well as for those that rely
upon the industry.
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing
new technologies in the
Middle East?
The regional challenges with regard
to new technology implementation are
affected by the standards being followed
(or not) – this is the biggest challenge we
are asked to assist with. Quite often, we
WHEN A
TEAM FEELS
SAFE AND
EMPOWERED,
IT IS AMAZING
WHAT THEY
WILL ACHIEVE.
find that the specifications that have been
laid down are not clear and explicit, they
are often at loggerheads and have clearly
not been thought through or understood.
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?
My role hasn’t really changed in the past
12 months. I have a great team so the
plan gets delivered and this allows me
to work with our external stakeholders
to ensure that we are providing the right
products at the right time and that we
are able to scale at the correct time to
service our clients. A lot of my time is
spent working with those stakeholders
on the two-to-three-year roadmap we
have with each of them.
What advice would you
offer somebody aspiring to
obtain high-level position in
your industry?
I guess the one piece of advice I would
give to anyone is to be prepared for
change and plan for constant change,
ensure your teams also expect constant
change – this will help them understand
that change is good and that sticking to a
plan for the sake of it does not work. ◊
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