GET TO KNOW
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ? And what do you think has emerged as the technology trend of this year and why ?
Right now , AI , especially Generative AI , is the big focus – no question about it . The rise of tools like ChatGPT has made companies realise they need to integrate similar technologies to drive revenue , optimise processes and grow .
This shift is raising a lot of questions about where and how to implement AI , and whether the data we have is good enough . So , while AI is the headline , it ’ s also pushing everyone to rethink their data management strategies and infrastructure . Of course , for companies such as Cloudera , this is very much our sweet spot , as organisations find their data spread across hybrid environments .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside of the office ?
Exercise is my go-to for stress relief . I need something that gets my heart rate up and really helps me reset . If I skip my workouts , I definitely notice a drop in my productivity and I ’ m just not as relaxed . Sure , holidays and hanging out with friends are great , but staying active is what really keeps me balanced .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
Honestly , I don ’ t spend much time looking back . I believe things happen for a reason . There ’ s a part of me that thinks getting into data analytics earlier might have been smart , but that might have pulled me away from the cloud computing side , an experience which is foundational to my role today . So no , I don ’ t really have any career regrets , I prefer to keep moving forward .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in Europe ?
Legislation is a big challenge here – things like GDPR and the new EU AI Act . On top of that , the economic climate has changed a lot , and we ’ ve seen some big market downturns that have had ripple effects . Even though IT investments often survive due to their strong ROI , political tensions and economic uncertainty still have an impact .
Right now , with so much political change in the US and Europe – especially with the record number of elections happening this year – it ’ s a tough environment . In addition , regulations like Schrems II make things even more complex , particularly when dealing with cloud services and data protection . Companies now have to ensure that no data , including control plane access , is moving outside of Europe . This means that where businesses choose to have a presence , and where they locate their control and access planes , has become even more critical .
There ’ s no escaping the various layers of regulation , especially in the cloud space , and it all adds up to significant challenges when implementing new technologies in the region .
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 ?
The way people buy and how we sell has changed a lot . Traditional methods like email just aren ’ t cutting it anymore . AI has become a big part of creating content and reaching out to prospects , but the tools we use
keep evolving rapidly .
There ’ s also a lot of confusion around Generative AI – every company is branding itself as an AI company now , which can be overwhelming for decision-makers . Over the next 12 months , working out how to quickly adapt to these changes in buying behaviour and technology will be key .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain senior leader position in your industry ?
My advice would be to get experience across a wide range of functions . It ’ s important to understand how the whole IT ecosystem works – tech , sales , customer support , everything . The workplace is definitely changing , especially with more Gen Z workers coming in , and that ’ s going to require new ways of thinking . But one thing that hasn ’ t changed is the need for a well-rounded skill set and the ability to communicate effectively across different areas . Those are crucial for anyone aspiring for a C-level role . p
74 INTELLIGENTCIO EUROPE www . intelligentcio . com