GET TO KNOW...
On the lighter side of things, we ask the
industry experts what makes them tick. . . .
John Morrison, SVP EMEA,
Extreme Networks
W
What would you describe as your
most memorable achievement?
Everything that happened at Extreme
over the last four years. I was given the
opportunity to reinvigorate a team that
had been through three acquisitions at that
point and was struggling to grow and find
its identity. The way this team has come
together over time to learn from each other
and closely cooperate with each other has
completely transformed the organisation.
This gives me a huge sense of pride in my
team and makes me very excited about the
future of our company.
What first made you think of a
career in technology?
I have always been interested in technology
and the increasing role it plays in our daily
lives. From the first computers and the
proliferation of the Internet, to the explosion
of connected devices and the vast physical
and virtual networks that power smart
buildings, organisations and cities. Working
in an industry that plays such an active role
in shaping the future of people’s lives is
incredibly exciting.
What style of management
philosophy do you employ with
your current position?
My style of management is all about
coaching people and helping them along
www.intelligentcio.com
their professional journey. More than
anything, I want to build a talented
team and focus on creating the right
environment for them to succeed in. To me,
you can only achieve this if the people you
manage see you as a partner, rather than
just as their manager. especially in an enterprise, healthcare,
educational or retail setting, have the
potential to fundamentally change how
organisations operate. But in order to get the
most out of the plethora of IoT devices in
use these days, organisations need to deploy
a robust, resilient and reliable network.
What do you think will emerge as the
technology trend of 2020 and why? As the devices we are using are becoming
smarter, so are the networks that power
them. The network of the future is self-
driving, self-healing and self-learning – and
network automation plays a huge part in
making that future a reality. It’s no surprise
then that network automation driven by AI
Every second, there are roughly 127 new
devices that are connected to the Internet
according to PYMNTS’ monthly Intelligence
of Things Tracker report. These devices,
“
WORKING IN AN
INDUSTRY THAT
PLAYS SUCH AN
ACTIVE ROLE
IN SHAPING
THE FUTURE OF
PEOPLE’S LIVES
IS INCREDIBLY
EXCITING.
INTELLIGENTCIO
81