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.”
What advice would you give to aspiring IT leaders? “Aspiring IT leaders need to understand that success in the field comes from taking a holistic view of technology and its impact on daily operations.”
How do you align your technology use to meet business goals? “It’s about getting the conversation going with teams to really understand the business goals and ask the questions; is it a tactical solution or a long term one?”
What was the worst piece of business advice that you received? “‘Don’t be nice!’ This poor advice comes from people who mistake kindness for weakness.”