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ManageEngine is the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corp. It empowers companies to take control of their IT. Shankar Haridas, Country Manager for UK & I at ManageEngine, talks about the importance of trust and transparency in working relationships and the importance of AI.

Describe your current job role

I am responsible for building strategic partnerships and expanding ManageEngine ' s growth across the UK. Over my 17 years at ManageEngine, I have worked my way up and the one thing that has been clear throughout my journey is the importance of

strong relationships with people. In my role, I lead cross-functional teams and ensure our solutions align with the evolving needs of our customers. A key focus of mine is fostering meaningful relationships with our customers, partners and teams and understanding their challenges. It’ s a role that blends strategy, leadership and a deep connection to people.

What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?

Professionally, it ' s been the projects that have not only delivered strong results but also encouraged genuine collaboration across teams. It’ s been incredibly rewarding to share the direct impacts of solving complex challenges with our clients and teams. in trust, transparency and empowerment. I believe in giving people the autonomy to take ownership of their work while providing the support and guidance they need to succeed.

Open communication is key; I value honest feedback and encourage a collaborative environment where ideas can be shared freely. Ultimately, it ' s about creating a culture where people feel respected and inspired to do their best work, and I’ m lucky that this culture is encouraged at ManageEngine.

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

AI, for sure. It’ s everywhere right now and not just as a buzzword; companies are really investing in AI that can drive efficiency, improve decisionmaking and even predict issues before they happen. Beyond that, cybersecurity is a big one. With the rise in remote work and increasingly sophisticated threats, businesses are doubling down on securing their data and systems.

On a personal level, I’ m proud of how I’ ve continued to maintain balance, embracing new challenges while maintaining a sense of steadiness and perspective in both my career and life.

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

Then there’ s the whole shift towards cloud infrastructure; organisations want flexibility and scalability, so investing in cloud solutions is a nobrainer. It all comes down to staying agile, secure and ahead of the curve.

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

I enjoy interacting and collaborating with a myriad of people. My philosophy with everyone is rooted

Looking back, I would have pushed myself to step out of my comfort zone sooner. Gaining www. intelligentcxo. com

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