DataStax

Inspired Execution: AT&amp;T Business EVP of Customer Service and Operations Sorabh Saxena talks about his 25 year journey with AT&amp;T, how his early exposure to diversity is key to his growth and drive for innovation, as well as inspiring his team.
In this week&rsquo;s installment of the <a href="https://www.inspiredexecution.com/">Inspired Execution</a> podcast, DataStax Chairman and CEO Chet Kapoor sits down with Sorabh Saxena, AT&amp;T Business EVP of Customer Service and Operations.
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Join Chet and Sorabh as they talk about:
<ul>
<li>What it was like for Sorabh to grow up in India during the 1970s and 1980s</li>
<li>Sorabh&rsquo;s three key takeaways that he carries with him every day</li>
<li>Why Sorabh believes that leaders can only inspire high performance&mdash;not demand it&mdash;and what they need to do to accomplish that</li>
<li>The important role both data and the cloud play in AT&amp;T&rsquo;s digital transformation&nbsp;</li>
<li>His three M&rsquo;s of inspiration &mdash; Michael Jordan, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King&nbsp;</li>
<li>Sorabh&rsquo;s advice to his younger self</li>
</ul>
Growing up in India during the 1970s and 1980s gave Sorabh the diverse perspective he believes is necessary when it comes to enjoying a successful career.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Thanks to my upbringing, I developed a deep seated belief early on that everyone is equal and everyone has equal potential. I like to look for the light within every individual, and that requires becoming a lifelong learner.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
If you&rsquo;re still trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, Sorabh advises you to follow your bliss.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Developing people is a passion of mine. I'd say whatever you're passionate about actually comes easy and you have to tap into that. For me, keeping up with technology, engineering and solving multi-dimensional, multi-variant problems is what I enjoy. So, I don't know if it comes easy, but when you enjoy it, it just makes it look easy.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
All leaders focus on results. Smart leaders understand that you can&rsquo;t wave a magic wand and get results; you need to inspire your team to get results on your behalf.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;The number one job of a leader, if I may say so, is to align teams in collective vectors of genius, because you can only inspire high performance. You cannot demand it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
One of the main reasons digital transformation efforts fail is because organizations don&rsquo;t think about digital transformation the right way.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I love the juxtaposition of those two because transformation is a series of well executed, wave-like motions that result in a new mode of operation. You must have a transformation engine, in my opinion, running in perpetuity.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Success in today&rsquo;s business world starts with cultivating a collaborative environment and getting everyone to chip in.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Democratize innovation. The ivory tower model doesn't work. So you have to engage the hearts and minds of everyone.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.inspiredexecution.com/">Listen to this episode of Inspired Execution</a> to learn more about what Sorabh has learned over his 25-year career at AT&amp;T, the important role underlying values and principles plays in business success, how to inspire teams to reach their full potential, and why you should follow your passion.
<h2>The story behind &ldquo;Inspired Execution&rdquo;</h2>
Interested in learning more about the genesis of the Inspired Execution podcast?
Remember to listen to previous episodes of <a href="https://www.inspiredexecution.com/">Inspired Execution</a> with:
<ul>
<li>FedEx CIO Rob Carter on <a href="https://www.inspiredexecution.com/episode/delivering-total-package-how-fedex-cio-rob-carter-continues-lead-industry">Delivering the Total Package: How FedEx CIO, Rob Carter Continues to Lead The Industry</a></li>
<li>Home Depot&rsquo;s Fahim Siddiqui on <a href="http://www.inspiredexecution.com/">Our Front Door is Our Mobile App</a></li>
<li>Banco Santander&rsquo;s Chief Platform Officer Aiaz Kazi on <a href="https://www.inspiredexecution.com/episode/journey-nirvana-becoming-platform-enterprise-banco-santander-cpo">The Journey to Nirvana: Becoming a Platform Enterprise</a></li>
<li>T-Mobile CIO Cody Sanford on <a href="https://www.datastax.com/resources/podcast/the-secret-to-20-years-of-innovation">The Secret to 20+ Years of Innovation: Always Put the Customer First</a></li>
<li>Jackson CIO Dev Ganguly on <a href="https://www.datastax.com/resources/podcast/going-from-0-to-100">Going from 0 to 100 in 90 Days</a></li>
<li>Nordstrom CTO Edmond Mesrobian on <a href="https://www.datastax.com/resources/podcast/fashion-starts-with-digital-transformation">Fashion Starts with Digital Transformation: Being a Change Agent</a></li>
</ul>
Also, check out <a href="https://www.inspiredexecution.com/episode/introducing-inspired-execution-podcast">Episode 0</a> to hear DataStax Chairman and CEO Chet Kapoor speak to what inspired the series and what listeners can expect from his interviews with CIOs and tech leaders from the world&rsquo;s top enterprises.
The podcast series is available on <a href="http://inspiredexecution.com/">InspiredExecution.com</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inspired-execution/id1526477155">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&amp;isi=691797987&amp;ius=googleplaymusic&amp;apn=com.google.android.music&amp;link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iyxxxjc2t6m3p2khgxo6ifpr4h4?t%3DInspired_Execution%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16">Google Podcasts</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/30c2FSJXqgdAcrNccpsngc?si=Q77ZWy_3Rw2nrdSXu1hd7g">Spotify</a>.

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