IT has a key role to play in driving transformative change

Gelsinger and Ng have a frank discussion about digital transformation in a fireside chat format.

Carpe diem, or seize the day. This is the advice Pat Gelsinger, CEO of VMware, has for IT leaders in Singapore. In a fireside chat with Sandra Ng, Group VP, and head of IDC's Asia/Pacific Practice Group at VMware's CIO Leadership Forum 2017 in Singapore, Gelsinger said "You're the smartest IT folk in your business.. And this is your opportunity to make a bigger impact in the business than ever before. When the CEO calls, it's your time to show up, to be able to be the transformational agenda in this business. Take the opportunity to be that transformative agent."

While Gelsinger acknowledged that there may be challenges such as budgets that can hold companies back, he also noted that bosses are also asking for the same new apps that competitors are coming up with. One car company CEO has asked him about competing with Tesla, he shared.

"Make your customers love you," he said. "(Cost) almost becomes secondary when you're the transformative agent...You should be aspiring to be the most influential leader in the business because technology is the future."

Gelsinger advised the audience to work on transformative app prototypes to that can mine existing capabilities of the business and bring new business value, presenting software demonstrations rather than presentation decks. "It's the embodiment of what that kind of service can look like, that ideation, you're saying this is what we can do," he said.

In the short term, Gelsinger advised IT leaders to consider fewer but more strategic relationships with IT partners, and to acquire the skills to develop their own software. "Your competitors are embracing these new technologies. They want to take your customers, your business away from you. It's hard, but it's also thrilling," he said.

Interested?

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Gelsinger's keynote at the CIO Leadership Forum 2017. The event's theme was Leading your Digital Transformation Journey 

posted from Bloggeroid