Hitachi Vantara is a true data company, which understands how data enables mission-critical digital and industrial environments. Sheila Rohra, Chief Business Strategy Officer, Hitachi Vantara, only started in her current position in February. She talked to us about the importance of staying humble and remembering it is about the team, not the individual.
Describe your current job role.
I am Chief Business Strategy Officer at Hitachi Vantara, a role I’ve held since only February 2023! Before joining Hitachi Vantara, I worked in roles spanning Chief Transformation Officer, Strategic Planning & Operations and Head of Customer Success, with 13 years of experience in the storage industry. A key part of my role today is working to define a vision and strategy to accelerate growth for Hitachi Vantara, and to help us to continue to take a leadership position in the storage and data management technology space. I’m still a relative newbie so I’m very excited about what’s to come!
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
Being appointed to the C-suite is a huge honour. I’ve been in these roles both here at Hitachi Vantara and as Head of Customer Success during the COVID pandemic. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to work with a range of talented and passionate people, who I’ve learnt a great deal from and been inspired by every day. I’m really proud of this achievement.
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?
I think it’s crucial to manage with both empathy and accountability. It’s important to be prepared to understand that everyone works differently and that an approach that works for one person might not necessarily work for another. Also, being prepared to be accountable for your actions is needed to build a trusted relationship with colleagues. This is essential in creating a successful working environment and to allow you to show up to work with integrity.
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?
I think cloud management in hybrid cloud environments will continue its role at the forefront of the industry as this area continues to expand. While many workloads are shifting to cloud, hybrid cloud still remains an area of investment. Some workloads (applications) run on-premises, others run on cloud and some need to run both on-premises and on cloud. In some cases, portability can result in an application running in part on-premises and in part on cloud. So, as we look to the future, it’s clear that hybrid cloud remains essential.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
To be completely honest, I wouldn’t change a thing! I’ve learned from each and every one of my experiences, and they have all played a part in getting me where I am today – so I’m grateful for everything I’ve been through in my career.
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry?
Firstly, make sure you always stay humble and remember that everything is about the team, not you. Secondly, always keep learning and, if possible, find a mentor to help you to do this. We all have things to learn at every stage of our careers, and this thirst for knowledge is crucial to continue to drive innovation and the direction of your business. Something else I would recommend is to keep your word and to hold yourself accountable in challenging times or when things go wrong. And finally, I think it’s essential to always be direct but respectful with feedback – particularly in circumstances where a problem needs to be solved.
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
I think I’d most attribute my success to my authenticity. I do my best to remain positive and transparent in all situations, which I think helps to build trust among my co-workers. Being positive is also important to maintain enthusiasm among the team, which is key to result in good performances.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Set daily and weekly goals. It sounds simple, but this ties into the ethos of holding yourself accountable, while also helping you to ensure that you can manage your time and workload. While the bigger picture is important, short-term goals help recognise the smaller steps it takes to get there. We should be celebrating these just as much as the long-term goals. And of course, it’s great to tick things off the list!
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months?
As I’m only three months into my role, I feel it’s too early to say – but I’m really excited to see how my role will develop over the course of the next year.
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