CommVault's Ankush Korla sees the expertise and understanding of trusted advisers as the future of UK plc
What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
Straight out of university I worked as an enterprise account manager for a leading systems integrator in India, managing the account relationship with Tata Motors, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Dog.
What were you like in school?
School captain, active thespian, keen on cricket.
What will be the most important trend to follow in 2016?
In 2016, we expect the journey to the cloud to continue as a key trend for end users' enterprise organisations.
This means we will see substantial growth of hybrid channel customer environments, with services-led requirements. Resellers and partners are evolving to support these, expanding their expertise to lead with strategic, consultative approaches, able to be implemented across multi-vendor, hyperconverged organisations. Service-led engagements will be critical to success in 2016.
What is your most annoying habit?
If you asked my son I'm sure he would say that I push him too hard to do his maths homework.
If you were king or queen, what would you do first?
I would ensure free books were available for all schoolchildren.
What was the first record you bought?
Bad by Michael Jackson.
What is your most overused word?
"Leverage".
Why do you think there is a skills shortage? What can be done about it?
The customer's journey to the cloud is a complex one, resulting in a greater demand for trusted advisers, more consultative partners and greater understanding of solution-as-a-service business models.
These skills need to be developed among existing employees while also attracting new millennial talent to such roles. Employees born in the mobile internet age, and starting jobs with the expectation of always-on, real-time communication and remote access business environment bring a different way of thinking and solution delivery.
Do you have a favourite motivational quote?
Steve Jobs - "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."
What should government be doing to help UK businesses grow?
Government must focus on delivering a knowledge-centric workforce, equipped to deliver value to the digital economy. IT skills are absolutely key to this and maximum encouragement and engagement with all pupils involved in the core STEM subjects will increase the success of UK businesses as a whole to ensure it creates a knowledge-centric workforce.
Not only will these skills be increasingly critical to all elements of business operations and processes, but they drive UK technical innovation, research and productivity to maintain our relevance in the global economy.
CRN in print or digital form?
Digital, because I like to be able to read on the go from any device.
What was your most important lucky break in business so far? Did you make the most of it?
I was at a marketing function at Open Text when a lucky break came my way. There was an opportunity to run the SAP business which meant delivering a multi-year go-to-market plan. I decided to go for it, and they let me. Seizing this opportunity let me combine marketing and sales management experience at a stage of my career that has projected me to where I am today.
What is your dream holiday destination?
The Himalayan mountains, because I grew up there.
What are the characteristics of the perfect channel partner?
A consultative, services-led partner trusted by customers.
