LEADERSHIP
50
“ Now you can create new worlds ; things are so messy that you can shape new opportunities for yourself ”
— Alexei Miller , Managing Director , DataArt
Now , in mid-avalanche , Miller laughs , everything is “ so much worse . Everything is messier , because the technology changes so fast , it is impossible for a CTO – no matter how smart or qualified he or she is – to keep up .” At the same time , he explains , those traditional ‘ business side ’ people have become increasingly technologically adept . “ They didn ’ t learn to use a computer in their 40s , like their parents ’ generation ,” Miller says . “ Sometimes they know more about cloud , AI and so on , than their technology counterparts .” This world turned upside down by dramatic forces of entropy is , Miller insists , chaotic and messy , but ripe with opportunity . “ It ’ s no longer clear who you ’ re selling to , what you ’ re selling or who ’ s making what ,” he shrugs again . “ You can choose to get depressed about it , because your life is more difficult now , or you can choose to see the fantastic opportunity . Now you can create new worlds ; it ’ s so messy that you can shape opportunities for yourself .” Miller approaches the future with a realist ’ s eye , both for technology and business
SEPTEMBER 2019