Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 56 | Page 82

GET TO KNOW important part in the success of the business rather than be perceived as a ‘ cog in the machine ’.
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
I focus a great deal on personal responsibility and accountability , which is another great enabler for building trust and transparency among the team .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
So , regarding my area of expertise relating to manufacturing technologies , it has to be information security and the drive to smart and intelligent manufacturing – specifically digital modelling , simulation and twinning of products , processes and overall operation .
We have been hearing for years about how ‘ Industry 4.0 ’ practices will revolutionise manufacturing . In my experience , this usually focuses on cost reduction but it is only now with challenging supply chain issues and global disruption , automated processing that reduces waste and increases quality is at the top of every forward-thinking manufacturer as well as embedding digital innovation within the fabric of the organisation , focusing on adding value to products and services .
Another area is being able to evidence , monitor and report on the carbon overhead of the organisation . ESG agenda is extremely important to the board , investors and consumers , therefore building out a full range of sustainability solutions is extremely important .
My brain doesn ’ t work that way – I truly believe every decision that results in perceived success or failure should be used as a learning experience . We make decisions based on what feels right at that time and embrace the lessons you learn !
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
My advice is to be true to yourself and your colleagues , stand up for what you believe in and do the right thing .
In a function such as Information Technology , it is incredibly important to ‘ speak the language of the business ’ and focus on how technology can provide business value , not the technology itself .
Be a champion of your business , get to understand the drivers and challenges to revenue streams , cost management and risk mitigation .
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to and why ?
I work hard to build positive working relationships across the organisation , so that ’ s being open , honest and approachable , as well as delivering on promises .
What ’ s your go-to productivity trick ?
Not so much a trick but I find being organised and continually prioritising tasks is really important – especially working from a home office for over the last two years .
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?
There ’ s been a shift in emphasis from IT being perceived as a support function to being real business enablers , architecting , driving and delivering the digital strategy that is now seen as critical for all parts of the organisation .
The digital agenda has certainly accelerated through COVID-19 and I don ’ t see it slowing down . Clearly , there are still pockets of the industry that perceive IT as a traditional support function , but to quote Albert Einstein : ‘ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results ’. p
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