Hello VOX Readers! Last week I published an interview with Ofer Azulay, Sales Director for Israel. Did you read it? This week I caught up with Jose Petisco, General Manager for Spain and Portugal based in Veritas’ Madrid office. In his #LifeAtVeritas interview, Jose talks about how consumer technology inspired him to start a career in IT and that over the years his management style has developed into Servant Leadership with his team’s success and happiness core his priorities. He’s been fortunate to have met Barack Obama in person, who has influenced him. And in his spare time enjoys discovery the world on a road bike with his wife. His interview is really inciteful, so read on to find out more about Jose, his management style and who has influenced his life both professionally and personally.
Jose: I´m from the baby boomer generation and I’m a very curious guy, and in the late 70s there were three exciting new things in the lives of young people, the first personal computers were available for the first time. Do you remember them? Atari, Sinclair or Apple. The second, we started to play the first video games, who doesn't remember Pong and the awesome gaming consoles? And last but not least, the best film ever, Star Wars: A New Hope, where our generation discovered the power of new technologies; Computers, Robotics and Telecommunications. These areas influenced my decision to seek a career in IT.
Zoe: I remember my first computer, it was a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K – fond memories. And I agree Star Wars is great and is the best film franchise by far. So, what advice would you give to those trying to secure their first IT role?
Jose: Find your seat at the table and be active in providing your value add to a project, everyone’s knowledge, vision and opinion are very valid. Today IT is complex, and it is just the beginning, teamwork is key in our world where a single person cannot understand the entire IT architecture, we need to collaborate in very diverse and multifunctional teams to build the new digital platforms. Our seat at the table will change many times and will guide us in our careers, so enjoy the ride. Think always positive and learn as much as you can. If you have the knowledge, you will feel confident and if you feel confident you can take “controlled” risks, which will give you a significant competitive advantage for your career development.
Zoe: Jose, you’ve recently joined Veritas. Why did you make the decision to join Veritas? And what do you enjoy most about your new role?
Jose: After 19 years at Cisco, with the last 44 quarters as the General Manager for Spain, I was looking for a new challenge and my next project. Data is at the core of Digital Transformation that we are living, and at Veritas we lead the market in Data Protection, High Availability and Data Insights, playing a fundamental role in customers’ data strategies.
I enjoy working with customers, partners and alliances, I can feel every day the pulse of the IT market, it helps a lot to understand what the customer requires for the business, when they need to be ready and how we should deploy the solution. Customer focus and results orientation are my obsession, and here at Veritas that’s part of the culture and I´m very integrated with this culture.
Zoe: What leadership traits make a good leader? And what’s your leadership style?
Jose: I believe that good leadership is based on trust, integrity and passion. I work always in three principles; Performance, Innovation and Transformation, in this exact order, because the engine of all organisations are the results, to improve the results every year you have to do something different, you have to innovate, and once you have innovated, then you can transform go to the next level, and the virtuous circl e starts again and is a journey that never ends.
I would define my leadership style as a servant leader, I work for the team and for each one of them, to help, support and motivate continuously.
Zoe: To a certain extent everyone has been influenced by friends, family, peers or even people who are high profile business leaders. Who are your role models and influencers? And why?
Jose: Of course great leaders inspire me every day, like Barack Obama very recently, but I believe more in the inspiration from the people that surround me; family, friends and teammates, because you know them personally, you know the hard work and sacrifice that is needed to succeed in a project, to solve a very challenging professional or personal situation. My parents are definitely my role models, I’m who I’m because of them and I know all what they did and how they did it to provide for our family and develop us into the people we are today.
Zoe: What motivates you? And how do you motivate your team?
Jose: Lead and excel in everything we do, something that we are doing in Veritas, everyone in the team, no matter the role she or he has. All Veritas employees have to lead in front of customers, partners and the market, they listen to us because we are supporting them in their digital transformation, we help them to improve their business results and we are building together the key pieces of their IT Platform that will differentiate them in their product and services with new customer experiences. I believe in team happiness, I can delegate because I trust in my team, fostering collaboration and teamwork that will make us much more productive and competitive.
Zoe: Jose, the Veritas South Team has had a successful year. How do you define success? And how do you build successful teams?
Jose: We succeed if we grow faster than our competitors in every solution category we sell, and at the same time we excel in the execution of our company strategy. It is absolutely key to build a diverse and talented team, with laser focus in attracting, developing and retaining talent.
Zoe: Why should people choose to work at Veritas?
Jose: This is a great company to work for, with multiple opportunities to develop our career and empower our experience and knowledge. Veritas is a market leader in Data Management, at the core of the Digital strategy that is changing the way that people work, live and play. We are #1 or #2 in all our solutions, where you can experience how exciting it is to lead in front of customers, partners and the market.
Zoe: What’s your favourite Veritas solution? Or product?
Jose: Enterprise Data Service Platform, this value proposition for the customer is a unique competitive advantage we have, differentiating us from competitors and very well accepted by our partners and customers.
Zoe: Describe Veritas in one word?
Jose: API (Availability Protection Insights)
Jose: I love to ride road bicycles, enjoying the experience with my wife for 40 to 50 kilometres riding through the beautiful quiet roads in Spain or in dedicated paths that exist in many cities and natural parks around the world, it is an amazing way to experience tourism. Also, I have a passion for the history of the Spanish missions founded in North America between XVII and XIX centuries, I have visited the majority of the missions in California along the 600 miles of the “Camino Real” and I have dozens of books about it. I would like to do the same with the missions in Texas, and if it is possible, using the bicycle to move from one mission to the next.
Zoe: Finally, what technology can’t you live without?
Jose: All Digital technologies, never has it been a better time thanks to the technology innovation we are living today, our society will benefit enormously, education, healthcare, transport, and many other public services are increasing quality and are much more accessible than a few years ago; life is easier, comfortable, productive, secure, and many other good things as a result of technology. We have the privilege to live in one of the most important historical inflexion points of the modern world, the beginning of the Digital Era.
So, that closes my interview with Jose Petisco, it was great catching up and thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts on Veritas. My highlights from this interview were Jose's perspective on good leadership is based on trust, integrity and passion. And I like his three management principles; performance, innovation and transformation and that is a continuous cycle of improvement and development. This is something that can be integrated into anyone's work style. Great management insights!
If you enjoyed this Life at Veritas blog post with Jose Petisco, then do stay tuned as there will be more interview style posts from other people at Veritas sharing their experiences and knowledge. And if this has inspired you to join our team, then check out our job vacancies on LinkedIn and apply here.
