Intelligent CXO Issue 03 | Page 64

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ONE THAT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT FOR ME IS TO RECOGNISE THE TIME OF DAY IN WHICH YOU ’ RE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND TO ALIGN YOUR DAY WITH THAT . gap in the industry . As more are carrying out their
Digital Transformation , investing in creating the right tech talent has never been more important .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
I just wish I got to know about Salesforce earlier . I came across Salesforce in 2013 , and that moment steered my career direction forever . As much as I enjoyed my previous position , I wish I could have made my move into the Salesforce ecosystem earlier .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
First of all , invest in yourself . Get any training that is necessary – whether that ’ s through a course or by getting yourself a coach to guide you through the process . Secondly , read , read and read ; find leaders who inspire you and learn more about their leadership , their management philosophies and how they ’ ve built their market strategies . Finally , get yourself a mentor . Find someone who has already reached the C-suite , who can help you do the same and reach your own goals .
There are many routes to a C-level position , but they ’ re almost never linear . Prepare yourself to receive a lot of nos before finally getting a yes , and always be on the lookout for different opportunities that might get you that board position . Know that the competition out there is fierce , so try your best to be always a step ahead of the competition .
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to , and why ?
By nature , I ’ m a really curious people-person . I love meeting new people and getting to know them better . This , combined with being such an extrovert and having a growth mindset , has lent itself to success throughout my career , as it really helps to ensure both customer success and sales .
What ’ s your go-to productivity trick ?
I know the pandemic has thrown most productivity hacks out the window , but one that has been a constant for me is to recognise the time of day in which you ’ re most productive and to align your day with that . For instance , I ’ m usually more creative in the morning , so I like to block out the first two hours of the day to carry out those tasks that need more creativity . Also , never underestimate the importance of taking regular breaks when working . They ’ re essential if you want to keep your productivity going in the long run .
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 ?
The pandemic has forced companies to pause and reset and has pushed them to look at their customer and tech strategies . I think the element that has mostly changed during these past months is the intensity of my role – more and more customers are focusing on finding the right tech talent to complete their strategies , and they turn to us as experts to find them the ideal candidates for their team .
Businesses have learnt the real cost of finding themselves unprepared . So , in the coming months , I see us partnering with our customers to help them define a suitable talent plan for their current business needs , but also for the needs they might have in the future . This , together with helping grow the tech ecosystem with Revolent , should make for a very exciting 12 months . x
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