Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is a company that offers communication equipment and services to telecommunications companies, ISPs, and data providers. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise EVP, Chief Business Officer Rukmini Glanard, and EVP of Global Operations, Business Technology and Quality Rasheed Mohamad to learn more.
Background Of Rukmini Glanard and Rasheed Mohamad
Rukmini Glanard
Glanard previously served as Vice President of Communications and Infrastructure Solution Line at Sita, the leading IT service provider for the aviation sector, and held executive positions at Orange Business Services in International Business Operations Global Communications Services, and Sales and Marketing Europe. Glanard said:
“In 2016, I joined Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise as Senior Vice President of the Europe North (EUNO) Region before entering my current role as EVP Sales Marketing and Services in 2019 and now recently confirmed as Chief Business Officer. My operational experience of business and go-to-market strategy has helped drive transformation within the teams I lead through challenging times.”
“As a hands-on senior executive, I lead large, multicultural teams to achieve ambitious sales targets. While driving growth objectives through sustainable partner relationships and materializing sales vision and strategy through concrete execution, it is important to ensure a customer-first focus.”
“I am also the sponsor of ALE’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), ‘Together’, a mentoring program initiated to help colleagues succeed while promoting gender diversity, equity, and inclusion. Together delivers an equal opportunity for all employees by providing the environment that people need to succeed and achieve their potential.”
Rasheed Mohamad
Mohamad said:
“My career has focused on global business transformation at strategic and operational levels. I have worked in the telecommunications industry for over 20 years and held various management roles in project management, process and budget management, R&D, supply chain, IT/IS, and business operations.”
“As EVP of Global Operations, Business Technology, and Quality, I look after every aspect of operations at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise from sourcing to delivery. I’m also responsible for leading the business technology and managing the IT/IS/security groups. A significant part of my role is guiding Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise to a more sustainable future, shifting from simply being ’a nice to have’ to a fundamental business requirement.”
“I also sponsor ALE’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) #GoGreen, which investigates new ideas, technologies, and solutions that improve sustainability and limit environmental impact.”
Favorite Memory
What is a memory at the company that stands out for Glanard and Mohamad? Glanard shared:
“I don’t have a favorite memory in particular. What inspires me about this company is the energy of the ‘ALEiers’ and the inspiring relationship we have with our business partners. Their support allows us to accelerate digitization whilst doing it for an overall better world and utilizing technology for good.”
And Mohamad shared:
“One of my favorite things about working for ALE is the incredible journey we’ve been on as a team. We’ve built a strong foundation as a business where people support each other, which, in turn, fosters a sense of team unity. Throughout this journey, I have seen the transformative collective power of our colleagues who consistently turn the seemingly impossible into reality. It’s truly rewarding to be part of such a remarkable team.”
Challenges Faced
What are some of the challenges you face in your role at the company? Glanard analyzed:
“Digital transformation is a hot topic for many companies, and whilst it is an opportunity, it also brings many complexities. In my role, I must ensure that we achieve targets in line with company goals as we accelerate our baseline transformation. Driving profitable growth in network, services, and cloud, and supporting our frontline in uncertain times are key focuses for the years ahead. We are doing this with our existing business partners as well as with new partners who we are onboarding within in our vertical sectors while also further sharpening our focus on ‘as-a-service’ solutions and cloud subscription models.”
“Ensuring we continue to provide the utmost care to our customers and business partners throughout remains fundamental to our growth and transformation.”
“Having worked in technology for decades, I have witnessed astounding developments and assisted with implementing these new technologies. In particular, cloud technology has advanced greatly and has become a key component in the infrastructure of enterprises, increasing scalability and adaptability for more streamlined operations.”
And Mohamad analyzed:
“In recent times, we, like many other businesses, have faced unprecedented challenges regarding resiliency, business continuity, and agility, particularly in operations. Dealing with component shortages, market turbulence, and broader geopolitical and economic uncertainties have naturally presented difficulties. However, despite these adversities, our outcomes have surpassed those of most of our competitors. Our success is a testament to our unwavering persistence, commitment, passion, and team’s can-do attitude.”
“Looking ahead, we anticipate that the business landscape will continue evolving rapidly, presenting opportunities and challenges. We expect technological advancements, such as AI, will be increasingly crucial in improving operational efficiency.”
“As we progress, we remain committed to our core values and the collective can-do attitude underpinning our success. We will continue prioritizing reliability, agility, and customer-centricity, ensuring we remain resilient in future challenges.”
Core Product Focus
What are the core products and features that you are focused on at the company? And how has that evolved over time?
Glanard explained:
“I am incredibly passionate about digital transformation. From the cloud to AI, I am focused on making everything connect for our customers. This involves all our internal processes through to the integration of technology into society.”
And Mohamad explained:
“We provide communications, cloud and networking solutions tailored to customers’ industries. Technologies such as IoT, the cloud, Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), and many others have the power to bring transformative capabilities to business communications. As these technologies evolve, we will focus on providing solutions that enhance communication effectiveness, optimize workflows, and drive business growth.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the most significant milestones in your career at the company?
Glanard highlighted:
“My time with the company is an ongoing journey of transformation. Together with my teams, we are facilitating the growth and evolution of the organization while delivering significant results to our customers.”
“This evolution has taken many forms, from the reorganization of the regions, the transformation of the business partner landscape, and the development of our employees. While technically not just one milestone, through our transformation, we have accomplished many goals. I am proud to celebrate my teams’ achievements and encourage our ongoing journey.”
And Mohamed highlighted:
“Throughout my career at ALE, I’ve witnessed many significant milestones that have helped shape my journey. It’s been a very fulfilling experience, starting over 20 years ago and now proudly being a member of the EMT team.”
“One of the biggest milestones I’ve been fortunate to be a part of was the carve-out of the Enterprise division from Alcatel-Lucent and transitioning into a standalone structure called Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. Although this was a significant undertaking, its success is a testament to our team’s collective commitment to growth and innovation.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Glanard cited:
“One of our most recent customer success stories comes from our partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools. We have worked together for many years in helping to provide safe and secure learning environments in which the students feel comfortable and empowered.”
“ALE has provided solutions for virtual reality (VR) learning, including VR trips to explore the Taj Mahal as well as the opportunity to take part in an e-sports curriculum. This is made possible via an all-IP Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise network for consistent and reliable communications.”
“Cybersecurity is essential to the safety and continuity of the network, especially when operating in a large district comprising of 142 schools. Utilizing Universal Network Profiles allows for uncompromised cybersecurity while simplifying IT management through role-based access control.”
And Mohamad cited:
“We worked with ACT Health to implement a communications solution that enables messaging and duress alarms to notify security and other staff in the event of any potentially dangerous situation, as well as location-based services within a clinical setting. The solution has enabled ACT Health to deploy patient care quickly and safely whenever an alarm is raised by pinpointing the location of the incident.”
“To this end, the Adult Mental Health Ward at Canberra Hospital has become a safer environment for patients and clinical staff. It has also benefited from improved patient outcomes and better organizational workflows, in addition to personal protective equipment (PPE) and information communications technology (ICT) cost savings due to faster incident response times thanks to using a single smart device.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise from its competition? Glanard revealed:
“Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise offers tailored real solutions to each of its key vertical markets (education, government, healthcare, transportation, energy and utilities) using customized technology solutions. Utilizing digital age networking, communications, and cloud solutions, we can promote secure and reliable connectivity across all channels for uninterrupted productivity, be that in the cloud, on-premises, or a hybrid of both.”
“With a focus on sustainability, ALE is committed to connecting people, processes, and machines for ultimate collaboration capabilities.”
And Mohamed revealed:
“Our key strengths include offering the flexibility of cloud, on-premises and hybrid, which means our customers can choose solutions tailored to their needs and business goals; our vertical sector focus; and our commitment to our go-to-market model through our business partners, which ensures customer proximity.”
Automation Of Supply Chain Logistics Perspective
Could you discuss your perspective on the automation of supply chain logistics, including the use of digital twins, AI, and the cloud? Mohamad offered:
“Our supply chain logistics can be revolutionized by harnessing the capabilities of real-time data, automation, and artificial intelligence. Gathering real-time data at multiple points within the supply chain through various technologies, such as IoT devices, radio frequency identification (RFID), and GPS, enhance connectivity throughout the process.”
“Embracing supply chain digitalization means eliminating siloed data, processes, and systems to ensure that data is integrated into every business decision. This abundance of data-driven insight enables increased visibility, improved security, cost analysis insights, and accountability. This allows businesses to maximize ROI and continually enhance their operations.”
“Automation and AI play a vital role in streamlining various tasks within the supply chain, but, while these technologies cannot entirely replace human involvement, they excel at assisting with repetitive, manual tasks.”
“A valuable tool in this digital transformation journey is the supply chain digital twin, which utilizes real-time data and snapshots to create a detailed simulation of an actual supply chain. This enables businesses to understand their supply chain’s behavior, predict unusual situations, and develop action plans accordingly, providing enhanced visibility at every stage.”
Partnership And Customer Experience Advice
Could you provide any advice based on your role in developing sustainable partnership relationships and focusing on customer experiences? Glanard offered:
“Supporting businesses continuity and sustainability efforts, while managing external uncertainties, goes a long way in developing partner relationships. At Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, we go above and beyond to encourage success, taking into account all variables in our aim to expand the possible opportunities for our partners and make their goals achievable.”
“Customer experience is a priority at ALE, and customer interactions are pivotal to the overall success of enterprises. Employee expertise and engagement are vital to customer satisfaction and is something all businesses must keep in mind. This means providing employees with regular ongoing training and ensuring high levels of product knowledge across the board. It is important that we are able to provide fast and accurate responses and tailored interactions for our customers.”
“ALE employees are the first to use all our solutions before they become widely available, enabling a greater understanding of what we can provide so they can offer customers the best and most reliable advice on our products.”
ESG Focus
Could you tell me about the company’s ESG initiatives? Mohamad replied:
“I feel it is essential to mention ESG. The central theme of our annual conference, Connex23, was centred around how technology can positively impact our people, suppliers, customers, and communities. At the heart of our business strategy lies CSR, as evidenced by our certification from Ecovadis, which underlines our adherence to sustainable practices.”
“Our receipt of the 2022 Trust Radius Tech Cares award highlights the strength of our CSR commitment. Building upon this momentum, we intend to elevate our CSR initiatives in 2023 by establishing a formal ESG program. By doing so, we will ensure our continued compliance with upcoming regulations while actively demonstrating the transformative potential of technology for the betterment of society.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of your future goals at the company? Glanard concluded:
“We are constantly looking to develop further and evolve with new technology to ensure our solutions remain innovative and competitive within our industry.”
“We are also entering into higher granularity within our vertical scope and tailoring our solutions for specific markets, for example, exploring the rise of smart buildings within the government vertical.”
“As we prepare for future transformation, we will be focusing more on the integration and security of AI and the metaverse, as well as further cloud utilization with ‘as a Service’ solutions. Along the way, we hope to achieve more certifications and accreditations.”
And Mohamed concluded:
“Although we find ourselves in an era of disruptions, we will continue to invest in three imperatives: visibility, agility, and resilience. This investment will enable us to forge a brighter future and maintain our competitive edge.”
“While the supply of components continues to pose challenges, we are progressing towards a more stable market and remain determined to overcome these obstacles.”
“We will maintain a sharp focus on forecasting accuracy and visibility. By aligning our plans and orders with our partners’ and customers’ needs, we will continue to build solid relationships and thrive in unpredictable geopolitical and economic factors.”
