On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

Helping rebuild , realign and re-energise teams so they have a sense of purpose and are growth focused . This was my remit when I joined Citrix back in 2017 . At that time , its revenue in this part of the world was static and team morale was in decline . Sharper focus on customer outcomes saw us reverse that and quite quickly too , without having to increase operating expenses in the process . Within 18 months we were recording exponential year on year growth and had secured a clutch of new accounts . On the personal front , navigating the world of having a child with special needs , alongside my wife Monique , has been challenging and rewarding in equal measure .

What first made you think of a career in technology ?

Like many people who joined the high-tech workforce back in the eighties , I stumbled into it ! After majoring in maths and physics at university I was heading down an academic path , expecting to become a teacher or lecturer , when I came across a fabulous graduate program with Ericsson . Having been lucky enough to be accepted onto it , I entered the ICT industry right when mobile technology was becoming a reality and

I ’ ve been here ever since . It ’ s been a fantastic ride and I wouldn ’ t have missed it for the world .

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

I have always believed that when teams self-define a purpose and vision for their activities and actions , high performance and success follow . Smart , driven people are over-represented in the ICT industry and they don ’ t need to be micro-managed . Trust and empower the people who work with you and , more often than not , they ’ ll reward that trust and exceed your expectations – as well as their own .

What do you think is the current hot technology talking point ?

One of the many things I love about the technology sector is its frenetic , ceaseless change and innovation cycles . They ’ ve always been fast and , in today ’ s digital first world , their speed is almost bewildering . For that reason , I tend to steer away from the Zoolander style , ‘ that ’ s so hot right now ’ discussion – it ’ s a sure bet something else will be hitting the top of its hype cycle in six or 12 months ’ time . There ’ s more to be gained from trying to understand what it is your customers want

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