GET TO KNOW
What do
you currently
identify as the
major areas of
investment in
your industry?
and helps develop mutual respect between
team members and leaders.
What do you think is the current hot
technology talking point?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most
exciting current hot topics with so many pilot
phases underway; we have already started to
see different applications such as chatbots,
city concierges, government services.
The use cases for these technologies are very
broad, and it's evolving so quickly. I believe
the demand for AI skills and use cases will
increase as applications widen and the impact
of AI deepens. Adoption levels will vary from
country to country and from sector to sector
but all will have some level of AI implemented
over the next two to three years.
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside the office?
I am a very social person and enjoy spending
time with family and friends. I usually spend
Fridays relaxing with my family and then
have more active Saturdays – starting the
day with biking or other sports then going
out for a family lunch and then the evening
with friends. Every year, I do a hiking trip
around the world with a group of friends as
a kind of disconnect from daily life and to
re-connect with nature and simplicity.
Smart Cities and
smart districts are
developing fast and we
see this as a big trend
in the region with many
organisations looking to
offer smart services. The
expectations of citizens
and governments are rising and demand is
growing. Today, citizens expect a simpler,
easier and more convenient way to request
services and to get them via their mobile
apps, regardless of the location of the service
provider. At the same time, governments are
looking to provide better services and ensure
happy citizens, while managing costs, and so
to automate services wherever possible,
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in the Middle East?
Adaptation of new technologies and
trust are usually the two main challenges
to implementation in the region. Most
organisations will not roll out new
technologies that are not tested or in large-
scale production; this is especially the case
with software products where customers
expect a lot of fixes to follow an initial release
based on customer feedback and experience.
On the other hand, there is relatively little
awareness about the broader impact of
adopting new technology and the need
for change management to get the real
benefits of the technology. Learning about
“
ADAPTATION
OF NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
AND TRUST
ARE USUALLY
THE TWO MAIN
CHALLENGES TO
IMPLEMENTATION
IN THE REGION.
new technology and the way it changes
how people do things is always part of the
challenge 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?
I have just started my new role with Orange
Business Services and so ask me again in 12
months and I would be happy to answer.
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain C-level
position in your industry?
I would say there are three areas to look
at – firstly, acquiring the right level of
knowledge about the industry; building a
good executive network to help with quick
wins and provide support when needed; and
finally the right leadership attitude towards
people, customers, business and culture. n
If you could go back and change one
career decision what would it be?
Looking back, I can say that there is nothing
I would change in my career journey so far –
I have learned something valuable about the
workplace, people or myself from every role
and experience.
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