Here's how you can navigate and excel in a fast-paced business landscape as an executive.

9 years ago, transitioning from software engineering at Google and Amazon to management consulting, I found myself offering solutions deemed "too technical" — from ML-based aspect labeling of customer sentiment to graph theory route optimization for technicians. Back then, consultants and clients alike were skeptical of relying on tech for decision-making. The industry landscape has drastically evolved. Consulting firms have embraced technology, shifting from custom projects to reusable tech-based solutions. Now, more than half of their projects involve digital or data components, a trend that's accelerating. Lesson? Change is the only constant. Pioneering new ideas in your field? Persist! Your innovation pushes the industry ahead.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to use the existing teams to draw on lessons/ learnings from all past programmes and allow everyone really everyone to evaluate themselves. They have to be engaged in their change so they can see the opportunity in change so they can adapt quicker with laone guidance

As an agile practitioner , I encourage a growth mindset within team. Empower employees to learn from failures and adapt quickly. Prepare for the unexpected and build strategies for business continuity. Proactive planning for a changing world by anticipating and mitigating disruptions. I agree seeing changes as an opportunity is right way to set way for continous improvemy and innovation.

Change has many facets: is it a change in concept of process of conversion of raw material to finished product with the aim of reducing the cost of production or is it the change of business portfolio or is it the manpower rejig or is it the software that needs an overhaul or total migration to another platform and many such. One example - should a company migrate to 3D platform from 2D? That brought in intense argument within (healthy though). A company having delivery commitments are hard pressed to shift because of a stall in deliverables having serious implication on financial viability. On the other hand, a core team identified to work on migration means an investment are some of the imponderables the management faces. Interesting?

It is quoted from the Gita that a changing world is a rule. An executive is generally a new one out from the college and enters the professional world. It is obvious that things are really different, it is necessary to embrace the changes required. The important point I would like to add here is embrace the changes that can make you a better personality than before. Not all changes are necessary to be accepted. Just learn new things, practice them well, get good results and repeat.

Prioritize strategic planning by setting clear, measurable goals that align with your organization’s long-term vision. Develop a comprehensive three-year plan with a target operating model with specific objectives and data metrics. Regularly review and adjust strategies based on performance data and evolving circumstances to ensure continuous alignment with your goals and adaptability to change. Manage risk proactively by conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities and develop contingency plans to address potential disruptions swiftly and effectively. Champion sustainability and social responsibility by incorporating sustainable practices into business operations and supporting initiative alignments

La prospectiva es fundamental porque ella nos permite adelantarnos a los cambios, recordemos que no es suficiente con identificar las tendencias y cambios necesarios, sino también iniciarlos a tiempo. Todo cambio requiere un proceso, ninguna organización tiene un "switch" para pasar de un estado a otro; sino que, se requiere preparar al personal y depende la cultura y clima organizacional el proceso puede llevar su tiempo. Así las cosas, el prospectar con acierto es una ventaja cuando se requiere iniciar con suficiente antelación y estar listos cuando las respuestas al entorno lo exijan.

In the fast-paced business world today, establishing a clear strategic vision is fundamental. As an IT entrepreneur, it's essential to foresee industry trends and match them with our company's strengths. By clearly defining our vision, we not only inspire our team but also focus our efforts on capturing market opportunities. This vision guides all our decisions, helping us remain adaptable and pertinent amid constant change. It is our blueprint for sustainable growth and resilience in the continually evolving technology sector.

In today's dynamic business environment, the timing of our decisions greatly affects our ability to capitalise on opportunities. It's vital to act promptly while upholding high standards. Utilising advanced systems management tools that provide real-time data and analytics is crucial. This enables us to make well-informed decisions swiftly, keeping us competitive. Fostering a corporate culture that prioritises efficient decision-making and adopts streamlined processes for rapid action is essential for staying agile and achieving optimal growth.

The Nike slogan comes to mind? Just do it! In other words, don't overthink decisions. There is merit in taking decisions quickly rather than dithering and watching the m9ment pass

Totalmente de acuerdo en que se debe contar con un proceso sistematizado para la toma de decisiones oportunas y de calidad. Es decir, no solo responder rápido sino también de manera que cumpla las expectativas de los grupos de interés de la organización. Ellos implica la imperiosa necesidad de haber trabajado y recorrido el camino para contar con un equipo de alto impacto que cuente con las pertinentes habilidades técnicas y blandas para agilizar los procesos de decisión.

In a high-velocity business world, the speed of your decisions can make or break opportunities. However, quick decisions shouldn't sacrifice quality. To balance speed with accuracy, prioritize strategic planning by setting clear, measurable goals that align with your organization’s long-term vision. Regularly review and adjust strategies at your decision speed based on performance data and evolving circumstances to ensure continuous alignment with your goals and adaptability to change. Incorporate employee values and foster a corporate culture that encourages efficient decision-making and leverages your team's collective intelligence.

Concuerdo y lo mencioné en el punto previo (3ro). Si es importante tener presente que los asuntos del clima organizacional han de estar previamente ajustados para contar con estabilidad en el talento humano, pues se invierte en capacitar y entrenar personal cuando ya los niveles de rotación de personal son mínimos, caso contrario estaríamos tirando dinero por descuidar el clima organizacional.

The dynamics of your team play a crucial role in how effectively you can manage and excel in a fast-paced environment. As an executive, it's our responsibility to build a team that is adaptable, skilled, and collaborative. Invest in training that enhances your team's ability to work with the latest systems and technologies. Encourage open communication and foster a supportive atmosphere where team members are motivated to share ideas and take initiative.

Investment in technology must be planned in tandem with the development of the personnel who will use it. We must prepare our employees by first sharing the vision of how adopting the technology will benefit the business. This involves committing them to the training process and including them in the selection of the technology itself, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the different options. Staff must be involved in understanding the new processes and procedures that will accompany the implementation of the chosen technology, ensuring they are fully integrated and prepared for its adoption. Ensure you also have Excutive Committee and Board Approvals if you have one or share your investors is also important.

La inversión en tecnología debe planificarse de la mano del desarrollo del personal que la utilizará. Debemos preparar a nuestros colaboradores, primero compartiéndoles la visión de la utilidad para el negocio de adoptar x tecnología y luego comprometiéndoles con el proceso de capacitación, siendo ellos parte de la elección misma de la tecnología, analizando las ventajas y desventajas de las distintas opciones. Que el personal sea participe de como serán los nuevos procesos y procedimientos a seguir en la tecnología elegida a ser implementada.

Continuous learning is a critical skill for executives in a fast-paced business landscape. With the rapid pace of technological change and the constant evolution of business strategies and trends, executives need to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in their field. By committing to continuous learning, executives can enhance their own skill sets, stay ahead of the competition, and inspire their teams to pursue growth and excellence.