What advice would you give to aspiring IT leaders? “Say yes to any opportunity, no matter how challenging. This has served me well as I’ve gained a tremendous amount of experience and learned to get the most difficult programs over...
Cybersecurity is constantly changing – how do you keep learning? “Reading – and it’s not just reading books. It’s keeping track of conversations on forums and board rooms. The online chatter is sometimes where you can pick up on news...
What is the biggest issue that you’re helping customers with at the moment? “Most companies understand that data is a valuable, strategic asset. But companies are still struggling to manage their data.”
What tips would you give to someone aiming for a c-level position? “To celebrate what people do well, don’t punish them for what they don’t do well – find ways to address that but honour what they do uniquely well.”
What advice would you give to aspiring IT leaders? “I would say ‘Just do it and always be curious.’ The best way to prove you’re the right one for the role, is to just do it.”
Which emerging technology are you most excited about the prospect of? “Low code… the most disruptive technologies have been the ones where they have democratised access to technologies that were previously only accessible to a few.”
What would put you off a candidate? “People who can’t leave their ego at the door don’t listen, they don’t learn, and they don’t see others’ points of view.”
Does the CIO role have additional responsibilities it does not currently include? “Being only a technical expert is no longer enough if you don’t have the business acumen and strategic business thinking to contribute to the executive...
What predictions do you have for the role of the CTO in the future? “In telecoms, the role of the CTO is changing significantly as organisations are looking for software engineering skills to develop differentiated services…”
How important are specific certifications? “To me, it’s more about internal motivation and the ability to produce results, not how many certificates you’ve earned.”