Intelligent CXO Issue 41 | Page 64

GET TO KNOW insights for better decision-making . For instance , many businesses will look to move out of data centres and into the cloud , especially following the recent global CrowdStrike outage .
Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) is another significant area of investment . We are at a very early inflection point , which will bring even more transformative changes than those brought by the introduction of the Internet . It ’ s already changed the world , and its potential to impact productivity is extraordinary . At Riverbed , we ’ ve been investing in AI for years . Focused on AIOps , our solutions are enabling IT teams to automate operations , including helping organisations automate tens of thousands of service desk tickets to improve user experience and productivity .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
If I could change one career decision , it would be to take more risks earlier . I ’ ve learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone often leads to greater growth and more opportunities . Additionally , I wish I had explored opportunities outside of the banking industry earlier in my career .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
My advice would be to continuously seek knowledge and experiences that broaden your perspective . Embrace challenges and develop both your technical and interpersonal leadership skills . with your peers but also with your customers to truly understand how the industry works .
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to and why ?
I attribute my success to my adaptability . In the tech industry , change is constant and being able to pivot quickly and embrace new challenges has been crucial for both my personal growth and the success of my team . I always seek out the next challenge . At a bank , you are either working on technology projects to ‘ run the bank ’ or ‘ change the bank ’. I have always leaned towards ‘ change the bank ’, focusing on doing things differently and improving existing processes .
What ’ s your go-to productivity trick ?
My go-to productivity trick is time blocking . By scheduling specific times for deep work , meetings and breaks , I can maintain focus and ensure effective time allocation throughout the day . Additionally , I always block time for strategic thinking to stay aligned with long-term goals .
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 ?
In the past year , my role has evolved to include a greater focus on faster cloud adoption , Digital Transformation and improving our security posture . For example , at Riverbed , I ’ ve recently implemented a brand-new ERP system which integrated everything from financials to Salesforce in just six months – which is unheard of .
Find a mentor early on who you are comfortable with and build strong relationships across departments and levels of the organisation . Spend time networking and collaborating not only
I anticipate this evolution will continue , with an increased emphasis on leveraging technologies like AI to enhance collaboration , innovation and data collection in a hybrid work environment . x
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