Prakash Mana

Prakash Mana is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of industry experience. As the CEO of Cloudbrink, Prakash has a strong track record of success, having served as CPO and CTO at Pulse Secure and held responsibilities for Citrix’s NetScaler security gateway business. He earned degrees in electrical engineering, including a BE, MS, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon. Prakash is recognized for his leadership in cybersecurity and networking particularly as it applies to remote and hybrid work technology, where he focuses on applying his business and technical expertise to innovate solutions that provide an in-office experience to the remote worker.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

Typically, my day starts the previous night. Before wrapping up my day, I review and plan for the upcoming day, adhering to the saying, ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’. I spend my days executing the planned goals, where I remain attentive, and keep adjusting as needed throughout the day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

One of my daily practices, both on a personal level and at Cloudbrink, revolves around two key elements. Firstly, we prioritize collaboration by bringing in exceptionally talented individuals, aiming to work together continually to identify market challenges and technology gaps for our customers.

The second aspect centers on feedback and active listening. We strongly emphasize gathering feedback from various sources—whether from analysts, advisors, mentors, customers, partners, or distributors. After collecting these inputs, we concentrate on pinpointing real problems with genuine pain points that people urgently seek solutions for. Through this iterative process, we have successfully introduced several innovative functionalities on our award-winning platform, to meet our customers’ needs.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am excited about the concept of ‘digital freedom at work’, as hybrid work brings a new level of connectedness. Unlike in the past when we visited our parents occasionally, now, with digital platforms, we feel connected even if we don’t see them for months.

This excitement extends to the workplace, where we at Cloudbrink embrace the concept of workplace freedom. We value the ability to work from anywhere, providing flexibility for family time, travel, while maintaining a high level of work productivity.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If I were to advise my younger self, I would emphasize three things. Firstly, value feedback highly—actively seek it, as it’s crucial for learning and improvement. Secondly, prioritize listening over talking. Knowledge grows when you listen attentively, uncovering ideas not explicitly taught. Thirdly, emphasize empathy. Take time to understand others’ perspectives by stepping into their shoes or seeing the world through their lens. This heightened empathy yields better insights in the long run.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

Collaboration and feedback are fundamental to my and our approach at Cloudbrink. Our team consists of like-minded individuals, so it’s challenging to identify situations where I’d firmly assert ‘my way or the highway.’

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Consistently place yourself in others’ shoes, see the world from their viewpoint, and understand their perspective. While we may be well-versed in our own viewpoint, it’s crucial to practice this habit to enhance our understanding. It’s about asking, ‘Now that I understand my perspective, how do I go about understanding everyone else’s viewpoint in the meeting and proceed from there?’

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I turn to hiking and running. To overcome feelings of overwhelm or lack of focus, I believe in injecting more positivity. Engaging in physical activities like running or hiking helps increase blood flow to the brain, providing a refreshing boost.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

My approach centers on followership, contrasting with the often-emphasized ‘leadership’. While leadership is a common topic, I’ve discovered the value of being a follower. When you find a leader you believe in, they become your ideal mentor. By following them, you gradually embody their qualities. For me, becoming a better leader isn’t the primary strategy; it’s about being a follower of an outstanding leader I admire and trust.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I’ve encountered numerous failures, both personally and professionally. To distill lessons, I’ve identified three common trends.

Firstly, as your career progresses, focus on the growth of your team and individuals within the organization. Prioritizing their development naturally leads to personal growth.

Secondly, empowering people is crucial for personal and collective growth. Placing individuals in positions is only half the job; true empowerment involves providing the necessary support for them to excel. Failing to do so will inadvertently result in a collective failure at the project or organization level.

The third aspect is once someone is empowered and in a leadership position, accountability shifts to them. Trusting them to make decisions and letting go of control is crucial.

These three elements—supporting growth, empowerment, and entrusting decision-making—have proven invaluable in my journey.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

An intriguing area lacking innovation is addressing the multitude of error messages and log files generated by digital systems around us. Take, for instance, connecting to Zoom. The real challenge lies not in identifying the problem that one of the participant’s voice/video is choppy but in the time-consuming process of understanding why the connection failed or why the video quality was poor. I see a significant opportunity for innovation by leveraging AI, specifically through creating a tool that would auto detect and correct such errors in digital systems around us. This could streamline the identification of issues in complex systems, providing a solution that industries would likely appreciate once available.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I adhere to traditional methods for productivity, relying on Office 365, particularly Microsoft emails and calendars. These tools serve as the lifeblood of my work, aiding in staying organized and managing communication effectively.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

Invest in two significant realms. Firstly, our privileged position in comfortable offices with cutting-edge technologies entails a moral obligation to give back. Contribute to community projects, provide financial support, and offer suitable equity wherever you could.

Secondly, invest in continuous learning. Allocate resources for personal development by acquiring new skills, refining existing ones, and striving for effective job performance each day.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

I recently delved into Leonard Mlodinow’s ‘How Randomness Rules Our Lives’, exploring how chance can unexpectedly shape our paths, emphasizing the role of luck despite careful planning. This perspective aids in recognizing the limits of our control.

In the realm of podcasts, Reid Hoffman’s Masters of Scale has become a recent favorite. The insights shared resonate well with Cloudbrink’s expansion stage, providing a valuable source of inspiration and learning.

Key learnings:

• Surround yourself with an outstanding team that fosters continuous learning.
• Prioritize followership over leadership.
• Invest time in thoroughly understanding your ideas.
• Cultivate empathy and patience for effective collaboration.
• Actively listen to others’ feedback and perspectives.