Vanguard Magazine

42 APRIL/MAY 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com Game CHanGer See the full interview online Q What is your role in your organization today? My role encompasses the management and strategic direction of Axis in Cana- da. I oversee that the vision and goals for the organization are really aligned with our long-term vision. As the Country Manager, I also want to focus on con- tinuing to grow and support the Cana- dian security market, our local partner network, and our customers. Q What is the one thing that has you most fired up today? The thing that fires me up is my team for sure. The team I inherited is amaz- ing. We are all A-players and we all work well together. Recently, we were hon- oured as a Best Workplace for Inclusion and a Best Workplace by Great Places To Work®. This recognition is a testament to the team, it really is a great place to work! Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? I think a habit that contributes to my success is my ability to relate to people and their jobs – leading with empathy. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty and have been regarded as a leader in the field. I have no problem pulling up my sleeves and doing something that is not really meant for management to do. Doing a task alongside some others in your organization that is perceived to be a task for other employees, shows that a leader can relate and really understand the predicaments of his/her team. It also shows that you are just like them. This is a great way to rally a team behind you and your vision. Q What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innova- tion mindset? Some companies that really embody the innovation mindsight for me would be companies like Apple, Netflix, PayPal, Amazon, NBA, Tesla (and a few more). They are really disruptors in their mar- kets, and they are continuously finding ways to keep their customers connected. They can see a space that others cannot and take the leap to just go for it. Q What are some of the biggest impediments to innovation in your industry sector? I would say some of the biggest impedi- ments to innovation in our industry is price-driven. When you are so focused on the price, you take innovation out of the equation. I think another factor that can really impede innovation is the fear of stepping out of our comfort zone as indi- viduals or business owners. We like things to be easy because we already know how to do them but then, you must ask your- self, how will innovation thrive? Some- times what is the simple option for you may not be the best solution for the cus- tomer. I'd challenge people, whether it's an installer or a customer, to ask lots of questions such as "Is there a better solu- tion out there for us?" Learning new things can be fun and eye-opening! Q How has innovation become engrained in your organization's culture and how is it being optimized? Innovation is in our mission statement at Axis. We went from print servers and Bluetooth storage devices to network cameras, and now, audio solutions. Our sales teams and engineers are often look- ing for new ways to tackle issues – if we don't have a solution for your needs, we also leverage our 900+ strong develop- ment partner community to help design a solution that works. Innovation is truly engrained in our company's DNA. Q What technologies, business models, and trends will drive the biggest changes in your industry over the next two years? I think two of the biggest trends we will see in the industry will be a shift towards AI machine learning and moving every- thing to networks. The conversations around AI and machine learning have had quite the movement already and it's exciting to see what the future will hold moving forward as we learn more about the capabilities and how they line up to various industry segment's needs. Q What is your parting piece of advice? As a leader, I don't really think of myself as a boss, but instead, I feel like I report to my team. I am accountable to them and their success is my success. A team that feels like they have someone leading them, that has their back and will fight for them, will, in return, fight for you and the organization. Keith D'Sa Country Manager, Canada Axis CommuniCAtions

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