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

Keir Garrett, Regional Vice President, Cloudera ANZ, on what time in tech has taught her so far.

While there have been several achievements that have shaped me, raising two kids on my own in a foreign country, without support, was significant. It kept me focused on bringing the best version of myself to work so I could give my kids the best possible opportunities in life. Another memorable achievement was competing in an ultra-marathon in the Himalayas, in a very remote location, near the border of Tibet. I was running in an environment that because of the high altitude, meant there was only 30 % oxygen, which added another level of challenge. I may not have won, but I made it to the start line and finished it. Upon finishing, I said to myself, you’ ve done this, now you can do anything!

What first made you think of a career in technology?

I started my career working in the accounts department at the BBC. I then moved on to a finance role at a New Zealand based travel company and the tipping point came when I needed to find a new integrated travel reservation system. I realised that I was working all hours for little financial return, so decided to jump ship across to the vendor side, securing my first sales role selling Kingston Technology. I then got a break by someone who still mentors me today, into the Oracle ecosystem selling ERP software. From there, I just broke out. I am one of those people that when I’ ve decided to do something I learn everything there is to know about it, whether it be an industry play, a solution play and so forth.

I then transitioned from sales and being an individual contributor into leadership – of which of which the most defining role was a position at Microsoft New Zealand.

Having a finance background and then really understanding ERP really helped me to understand customers, their pain points and what they are trying to achieve by way of outcomes.

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

I learned to have empathy and temper my own vision by recognising that you can’ t be a lone wolf manager. Instead, it’ s about focusing on people and bringing everyone on the journey with you. I also encourage everyone to think about the how-to’ s and what-ifs – shifting the dial from‘ why not’ to‘ how can we resolve it’.

People come to work to have a positive experience and I have realised that as a leader, the impact that I can have on someone’ s day or life by being collaborative can be quite profound. I have experienced the downside of working in a climate governed by stealth and fear and hope I never have that level of negative impact on someone’ s life. My team always knows where they stand with me and that I have always got their backs.

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

The current hot tech topic right now is Generative AI.

However, as leaders, as trusted technology advisors, we must really focus on the customer outcome that is needed first. We have an intrinsic responsibility to help our customers manage their data, ensuring they have the right infrastructure and tools in place. There is also the issue of trust when it comes to using AI. The evolution of AI also raises implicit questions about our ethical responsibilities as individuals.

How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office?

Exercise is a great stress reliever. It requires discipline, for example, getting up at five am and committing to

Diversity of thought also fosters innovation and helps ensure we are future proofing our sector.

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