Why CEOs must be cloud proficient

I was recently invited to join a podcast as a guest speaker, talking about CEOs and the cloud. The crux of it is that cloud proficiency is both essential now for CEOs, but at the same time, not given enough attention.

Cloud computing is not a new concept, of course, but it has evolved from a data storage and infrastructure solution and grown up into a fully fledged enabler of growth and transformation. The pace of this shift has been extraordinary so in some ways, you can't blame many business leaders for thinking about it in its former definition, but it's the tech-savvy business leader who is winning with cloud as they embed the grown up version at the heart of their growth and transformation ambitions.

Last year was difficult. In business, we hankered down, focusing on cash preservation, and staying afloat as we navigated a crisis. We had to look ourselves in the mirror and address those challenges in our businesses we'd not yet leaned into. We changed cost structures, operating models, thought about new propositions and we made investments in technology and data like we'd never made before.

And three groups of leaders emerged. The first group of CEOs recognise cloud’s value and prioritise its role to transform their business; they’re the innovation leaders. The second group still views cloud as an infrastructure play and cost-cutting exercise; they’re often innovating within existing parameters but not making the leap to full transformation. The third is somewhere in between; they can see potential for innovation but aren’t yet sure how to make it happen.

I enjoy working with all three groups. With the first, we can become a thought partner, stretching the boundaries on the art of the possible. Connecting cloud investments to material shifts in market share and reinventing companies for the future. With the second group, it's usually about starting to connect the fuel gained from the infrastructure and cost-cutting plays into growth - using cloud as a trigger for Finance, HR, Customer, Supply Chain or Payments transformations that join the enterprise together. And for the last group, it's often about confidence and assurance to make that first move - forming a more agile organisation that sees return on technology investments at a faster pace as we together decide which bets to place.

As I wrote in my last blog, many of the CEOs I’ve worked with over the past year understand now more than ever what harnessing the power of cloud can do for their business. CEOs are becoming increasingly more tech and data-focused to help facilitate the different areas of their business to work together – finance with HR, with supply chain, with the commercial business, and so on. These CEOs think cloud-first, diversify their leadership team, empower their workforce with technology and see success as more than just outperforming last year’s results.

So, how can leaders transform their organisation to prepare for whatever the market will throw at us next? The answer is simple: cloud proficiency. Only when CEOs fully understand the potential of cloud will they be able to put transformation at the heart of their business.