On the lighter side of things, we ask Paul Mackay, Regional VP for Cloud EMEA & APAC at Cloudera, what makes him tick.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
Professionally, I’d say my most memorable achievement is the work I’m currently doing to grow the cloud business at Cloudera. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience, driving innovation and seeing the impact our team is making in the wider industry.
What also stands out is when I earned the EMEA CTO role at Dell EMC. I had been working toward that goal for a long time, and when I finally achieved it, I remember thinking, ‘What do I do now?’ It was a moment of reflection – realising that reaching a long-term goal is just the beginning of the journey. That role opened so many doors for me and became an incredible learning experience.
What first made you think of a career in technology?
I’ve had an interest in computers from an early age. It started with building and fixing things. But what really drew me in was the underlying question of ‘how does this work?’. This began with a focus on the physical hardware, but over time, I shifted more towards software.
My first job was at an IT reseller, where I started at the bottom and worked my way up, driven by a natural affinity for technology. I began by building servers, then transitioned into software, which naturally led me to VMware and eventually to cloud technologies. All of this led me to my current role at Cloudera.
What style of management philosophy do you employ in your current position?
I’m all about empowering my team by giving them the right tools, coaching and leading by example. My approach is open and communicative, and I make sure I can do anything I ask of those I manage.
I follow Sir Clive Woodward’s idea of building a strong team by finding the right people and helping them grow. While I encourage everyone to take ownership, I’m always there to guide and support. Empowerment is really key for me. I’ve been lucky to work with some fantastic leaders who share this philosophy, and seeing how poorly things can go under different leadership styles only strengthens my belief in it.
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry? And what do you think has emerged as the technology trend of this year and why?
Right now, AI, especially Generative AI, is the big focus – no question about it. The rise of tools like ChatGPT has made companies realise they need to integrate similar technologies to drive revenue, optimise processes and grow.
This shift is raising a lot of questions about where and how to implement AI, and whether the data we have is good enough. So, while AI is the headline, it’s also pushing everyone to rethink their data management strategies and infrastructure. Of course, for companies such as Cloudera, this is very much our sweet spot, as organisations find their data spread across hybrid environments.
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside of the office?
Exercise is my go-to for stress relief. I need something that gets my heart rate up and really helps me reset. If I skip my workouts, I definitely notice a drop in my productivity and I’m just not as relaxed. Sure, holidays and hanging out with friends are great, but staying active is what really keeps me balanced.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
Honestly, I don’t spend much time looking back. I believe things happen for a reason. There’s a part of me that thinks getting into data analytics earlier might have been smart, but that might have pulled me away from the cloud computing side, an experience which is foundational to my role today. So no, I don’t really have any career regrets, I prefer to keep moving forward.
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in Europe?
Legislation is a big challenge here – things like GDPR and the new EU AI Act. On top of that, the economic climate has changed a lot, and we’ve seen some big market downturns that have had ripple effects. Even though IT investments often survive due to their strong ROI, political tensions and economic uncertainty still have an impact.
Right now, with so much political change in the US and Europe – especially with the record number of elections happening this year – it’s a tough environment. In addition, regulations like Schrems II make things even more complex, particularly when dealing with cloud services and data protection. Companies now have to ensure that no data, including control plane access, is moving outside of Europe. This means that where businesses choose to have a presence, and where they locate their control and access planes, has become even more critical.
There’s no escaping the various layers of regulation, especially in the cloud space, and it all adds up to significant challenges when implementing new technologies in the region.
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?
The way people buy and how we sell has changed a lot. Traditional methods like email just aren’t cutting it anymore. AI has become a big part of creating content and reaching out to prospects, but the tools we use keep evolving rapidly.
There’s also a lot of confusion around Generative AI – every company is branding itself as an AI company now, which can be overwhelming for decision-makers. Over the next 12 months, working out how to quickly adapt to these changes in buying behaviour and technology will be key.
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain senior leader position in your industry?
My advice would be to get experience across a wide range of functions. It’s important to understand how the whole IT ecosystem works – tech, sales, customer support, everything. The workplace is definitely changing, especially with more Gen Z workers coming in, and that’s going to require new ways of thinking. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the need for a well-rounded skill set and the ability to communicate effectively across different areas. Those are crucial for anyone aspiring for a C-level role.
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