Intelligent Tech Channels Issue 23 | Page 61

CHANNEL CHIEF For DAVE FUNNELL , Manager: Cloud Provider at VMware, there are seven types of leadership style, and he falls into the strategic leadership segment. D Describe your current job role and the parts that are somewhat challenging? What made you think of a career in technology? I manage the VMware Cloud provider business for Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a rapidly growing business where Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) leverage VMware to deliver a variety of solutions and services to the market. The size and varied maturity of the territory make the role challenging, but also very exciting. The nature of the programme means I get to work closely with the revenue generating business within the CSPs. When you look back at your career what has been the most memorable achievement? I’ve been working in ICT for over 20 years, and there have been so many changes over that period, that being flexible enough to adapt to those changes and stay at the forefront of numerous technology transformations is an achievement in itself. Along the way, I’ve been privileged to work with market leading vendors, partners and customers as they have benefited from these technology changes. The size and varied maturity of the territory make the role challenging, but also very exciting. INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS Issue 23 It seemed like a logical step when I made the move into the technology space. I had experience in a service industry and, allied to an understanding of technology and its benefits to business, it was a very attractive career option. With the constant change there is always the opportunity to learn and acquire new skills. Dave Funnell, Manager: Cloud Provider at VMware What style of management philosophy do you employ at your current position? VMware employ highly competent individuals, so management is about creating the right environment for them to be productive. It is a highly pressured environment, so it’s important to keep energy high, encouraging people to succeed. We also need to support our full partner ecosystem as an extension of the VMware sales teams and allow them to feel part of the organisation. What is your style as a team leader? It is said that there are seven types of leadership style and I feel that I most likely fall into the strategic leadership segment. This would make sense as I have both operational responsibility and I am targeted to drive strong growth within the cloud business. What do you think will be the hot technology talking point of 2019? Maybe not a hot tech topic, but I think the maturity of cloud adoption, as it moves from being an idealised nirvana that promises to mitigate all the issues of IT, to a fully 61