While no longer the new man running Nutanix in Sub-Saharan Africa, not much is known about Rowen Grierson as he has tried to stay out of the spotlight.
We spoke to Rowen about how his career has helped him find his way to the top spot for the region at a company that is pushing the boundaries on conventional infrastructure.
Q: Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into IT, and what drew you to it as a profession?
A: Like many people of my generation, my love affair started with the Commodore. I have always loved technology, and back then, it took so long to get your hands on a game you had to programme one yourself if you wanted one. I was about four, and I was already messing around on the computer and programming games for myself.
I found myself being drawn more into the realm of cybersecurity in the initial stages of my career, which then tilted more to an all-encompassing view of where everyone was headed, all the infrastructure pieces with a focus on networking. I then shifted back to focus on security before I came to Nutanix.
Many people land up in IT because they hear they can earn a lot of money in this industry, whereas for me it was all I ever knew. I grew up with technology, and it was my passion.
Q: Where would you say you made your first big break in the industry?
The biggest game-changing appointment for me in my career was getting involved at F5 Networks. I was involved in setting up the local territory as territory manager for Africa and helped drive growth across the region. It was more than just setting up an office. It was getting the first foot in the door with the big banks and then also the telcos. If I look back now, that was the moment that everything changed from a career perspective.
Q: And now you are head of the SSA region for Nutanix. What challenges and opportunities have you experienced in your role to date?
Fortunately, a large portion of my career has been working in Africa, so I can’t really say that we have any particular “African” challenges. So, the biggest challenge is getting the rest of the world to understand the African business model and how we engage with companies here on the continent.
There is so much potential on this continent. You need to nurture the relationships you have and really manage and nurture your relationships properly. Nutanix has such an incredible story to tell, and client’s get it; they see the value, so you need to bring the value to the table in every discussion. We see incredible opportunity outside of South Africa, and the rest of the continent is outpacing the in-country growth we are enjoying.
Q: If you could start your own startup, what tech would you look at trying to sell?
That’s a good question. It would have to be something around AI and automation. The world we live in is crazy. There is just too much data for us as humans to process, from email to online content, articles, news and general discussions. Using technology to help decipher information and turn data into intelligence to drive business decisions is where the current sweet spot is.
I am currently based between South Africa and the UK which also has its advantages to cross compare market movements, customer challenges (and opportunities) etc . With regards to data and intelligence a good example would be the Covid vaccine rollout in the UK. To get ahead of Covid and get on top of vaccine distribution, the NHS in the UK has to use intelligence to figure out when and where to rollout the vaccines, how effective they were, what the gaps needed to be in between jabs. We saw researchers feeding information constantly and decisions on where to provide vaccines changing on the fly. Data determined the best place to give a vaccine by age group, not just geography; it is still playing a critical role in this.
So yes. Data is super exciting.
Q: What makes Rowen the businessman tick? What do you look for in people, and what excites you about business?
Change. Driving change and making a difference. Our work doesn’t just end. We don’t build a shopping centre, stand back and look at our tangible achievement when it is finished and the first customer walks through the door. We have to engage with customers on their strategies, understand their challenges and then figure out ways to use technology to help solve these business challenges. The greatest reward is when a customer says they had a burning issue and what we did changed their lives. One customer said he used to start backups every evening because they would take 10 hours and then set alarms throughout the night because they often failed. So he never had a full night’s sleep. Now with Nutanix, they run in 14 minutes, he gets to sleep, and for the first time in his career has been able to take a 10-day holiday.
Seeing change THAT is what makes me tick.
Then seeing this excitement permeate my team and how it drives them to do more because the impact we have is tangible is so rewarding. On a personal level, I am an entrepreneur at heart, so working at Nutanix gives me the flexibility to explore the freedom and space I need to succeed and affect change – makes it a perfect match for me.
Q: You are quite young to have such a senior position which is a real inspiration to people in the industry. What advice can you give anyone looking to crack it or feeling a little deflated or stuck in what they do?
You always hear people say this but let me explain where I am coming from. Be yourself. Go with your gut, and don’t try to do what others do and follow everything others say. You need to listen, learn and absorb new things constantly, only making decisions once you’ve clearly understood the situation at hand….whether in the business world or in your personal life. People value people who show their truth. I try not to listen to answer but to hear and engage with partners, customers, and my team. Knowing what people face daily helps you make better decisions, and it helps you rely on your gut.
I can be unorthodox. Just ask my boss (hahaha). But he knows that I have never made a decision that hasn’t been carefully calculated and thought through, so he gives me the benefit of the doubt, and when he questions me, we talk it through. Communication, not being afraid of making mistakes, and being true to yourself are all critical.
Q: And when you aren’t at work, who are you?
Very much a family man and I love travelling although we haven’t done much of that recently. I like to take time to be in nature. I love the outdoors because it gives you a break from the constant noise in our lives and the information overload. I get a lot of pleasure from simple things like that first cup of coffee in the morning, a hike, a run.
Spotlight on Rowen
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Beer, whisky or vodka? Probably whisky
Favourite food? Good traditional South African food – nothing beats it
Next bucket list holiday destination? I recently went to Croatia and loved it. Next would be the Maldives
Xbox or PlayStation? PlayStation
Favourite game? If and when I get time, Call of Duty
Do you ever binge watch series? I try to stick to things that are light-hearted, like Modern Family, but obviously, I loved Game of Thrones
What is a saying you are known for in the office? So we had to ask Rowen’s team for this, and this is what they had to say: Always be paranoid about opportunities and prospects and our deal stages. Having a balance between optimism that things will go well and paranoia to expect a spanner in the wheel and plan for them.