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On the lighter side of things , Gregg Petersen , Regional Director – MEA at Cohesity , speaks to us about his life inside and outside of the office .

Describe your current job role

As Regional Director – MEA at Cohesity , my number one priority is to ensure we ’ re able to acquire and comprehensively serve the largest government and enterprise businesses in the region . To achieve this , I spend most of my time engaging with customers

and prospects , leading and expanding my regional team , building out and empowering our channel and strengthening our alliance partnerships .

What would you describe as your most memorable achievement ?

While overachieving targets , ensuring growth and driving other key businesses outcomes are all great , I ’ ve always found that when I reflect on my role as a leader , it is two specific instances wherein I have been able to work with and effectively motivate underachievers to become some of the most valuable members of my team that stand out .

I strongly believe that when the underlying factors – be it personal or professional – are identified and addressed , the true potential of a team member can be unlocked which then proves immensely rewarding both personally and professionally .

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?

Throughout my career , I have taken on roles in emerging markets which by their nature require introducing a brand to a region and steadily growing it into a market leader . Success in this endeavour hinges first on establishing a flat organisational structure where everyone feels they can be an equal contributor to success .

I enjoy building truly meaningful relationships with my team members – spanning their professional and personal growth as well . I strive to create a culture of openness , transparency and trust and always want my team to know they can approach me regarding the challenges they face so I can help guide them through for a positive outcome .

What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?

Currently the biggest trends in the industry centre around data management and ransomware protection . When we talk to regional customers , we find their primary challenge is how to manage and unlock the potential of data that now resides in a hybrid and increasingly complex environment . And with the threat of ransomware at unprecedented levels , being able to rapidly backup and recovery is another growing concern for the region ’ s IT leaders . Enterprises want to protect their data from these cyberattacks irrespective of its location – be it their data centres , clouds or remote sites .

If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?

Something I ’ ve learned is that to ensure constant professional development and to stay motivated , it ’ s essential never to fall into a comfort zone and settle for the same job responsibilities for an extended period . Especially in today ' s fast-paced

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