Author: CIO Times

Lightrise Consulting is a dynamic company specializing in workforce, benefits, and learning management consulting services. With a focus on digital transformation and strategic planning, Lightrise Consulting helps organizations enhance efficiency, increase profitability, and navigate complex market conditions. Their team of experienced professionals, including HR digital transformation executive and CEO, Gareth Jones, brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record in business development and leadership. Lightrise Consulting is dedicated to driving positive change and empowering organizations to achieve their goals.

Lightrise Evolves

From his humble beginnings at a school that once received the lowest results in the UK, Gareth has always been acutely aware of social injustice. His passion for nature and humanity led him to study Environmental Science and Development Management, with a desire to create impactful changes for a better future.

Recalling the lightbulb moment, Gareth shares that it felt like several pieces of learning all started to come together at once, then one afternoon those synapses decided to make the pathway for what is now Lightrise.  He always had a strong awareness and sense of urgency for the planet, yet as his career evolved it was people that became his focus.  This people-focus really started when he was working at the University of Southampton, as an analyst, studying for his Masters in his part-time in the evenings.  While at work, Gareth started to stretch into setting up a mentoring group for middle managers to improve communications and networking. 

From here he then continued his career looking after thousands of employees as an Information Manager in HR at King’s College London.  Gareth was part of the senior HR team for over 5 years, and it’s here where he finished his MSc travelling to London 3 hours each way.  He saw the power of technology and analytics and started to put together solutions to enable his colleagues also to start to make a positive impact on the culture, and alongside managing the day-to-day tasks of looking after the information that’s what we set out to achieve by equipping people with tablets and the information and analysis they needed to make impactful decisions. 

Gareth started to work on ideas for a business to bring his interests from his degree in environmental sciences to technology and people. Lightrise was thus born in his mind. He bought a book on writing a plan and setting up your business idea.  They were going to build environmentally friendly Personal Computers, Reduce the lead, create chassis out of wood and procure parts to enable an Eco PC.  The numbers, however, were not there, a viable business could have only been built if large volumes were there.  This was a blocker.  Lightrise in name, mission and values had started as an idea.  

This is also when he embraced fatherhood and realized he had to find a job closer to home.  He had been working with Oracle watching what Microsoft were bringing to the HR scene with Dynamics, He put Lightrise on the shelf and went to work for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on the HR part of their Microsoft ERP implementation, which meant he could walk to work, and spend time bringing his son up which was important to him.  

“This was a formative time for several of us who started our Microsoft careers, and several friends including me went into consultancy after this. I returned to London but started working remotely for Microsoft Gold Partner and spent just under 6 years as a consultant through to a practice lead. We were very successful, but I came to implementation thinking about how to make the structure of projects succeed and make them people-orientated.  Now we know that 70% of an IT project is people change, and people are the fundamental pillar of success in a project,” recalls Gareth.

Navigating Tragedies to Seek the True Path

Then tragedy struck as Gareth’s mom passed away.  It showed him again one must make the most of life.  The woman who had given him so much love, and drive her values of equality, animal rights and humanity had gone. He realized these values were important to him, and if there is anything one can do to honour a parent’s memory then it’s to live life being their best self with those values.

A couple of years later the pandemic came, and Gareth sat there watching and helping others go through the psychological barriers around remote work, and how he had been successful over the last few years delivering international projects remotely and helping people up into what was a new way of working for many.  He carried on through the death of his father until one day his boss asked, ‘if he was ok’.  

“I was ok, wasn’t I? But my brain reminded me otherwise. I broke down in tears. I was a broken man.   I saw this as a weakness, I’ve never been hugely sporty, and my brain was always my strongest tool.  I was about to get through what happens when you don’t look after it.  I became very distrustful, I would wake shaking, and be scared to walk down the road at times.  What the hell was happening to me?  I wanted to know.  Proud of my science background, it was my duty to find out.  What I perceived as a weakness in my mind was about to be challenged.  What was this?  I found clinical help and owe my life to Colin, a psychologist (who happened to be a prior Microsoft Consultant). I began my journey to unravel childhood trauma and identify and unpack what hyper-vigilance is. A heightened sense of your body’s fight or flight mechanism.  Things started to make sense, I started to work out who I was, and what had shaped me so far.  I started to get my strength back, identifying the red flags in life.  I had now taken another job in my journey to find a culture that I’d be happy with, but several months in I saw those red flags (this time with the help of Microsoft Viva) and decided this wasn’t the path for me,” shares Gareth.

This was high time that Lightrise came off the shelf.  Technology, compassionate leadership, remote working.  The opportunity vs. risk in Gareth’s head was too great.  He set off alone as an independent contractor, keeping his rules on a work/life balance and growing something worthwhile. He always wanted to change the world for the better, he just wasn’t sure how. How could he make a change that was worthwhile? Having spent a fair bit of his life as an angry activist, that wasn’t working for him, there were more people shouting.  But it felt like change wasn’t quick enough. Lightrise was alive again.  This time with the structure of the UN Sustainable Goals as its blueprint for making change.  

Overcoming Challenges to Provide Solutions

When he started Lightrise, Gareth was lucky enough to have a couple of clients follow him, and whenever there was a lull in charitable work, he focused on the company.  Everything from an HR standpoint which he knew he could engineer out before risks manifested themselves. Bootstrapping a business isn’t fun and the main challenge around this for him was his nervous system, and managing the impacts of stress this takes. He invested himself in tools to change his mindset.  Nightly sleep hypnosis, mindfulness apps…. They all helped, and he got stronger and stronger with his coach’s help.  

Today, Lightrise provides Microsoft implementation services and managed services to provide people-centred solutions to enable Employee Experience and ESG HR success. It has just launched its ESG offering.  “I remember someone asking me what software I wanted to expand into, and at the time it didn’t exist.  Andy ‘the job I want doesn’t exist yet, and nor do the tools’. Well I’m pleased to say it does now, and this part of our journey has just begun,” shares Gareth.

Humanity, Integrity, Humility and Respect are the values that drive the company. 

“We’re all human, with different experiences and cultures that have shaped us, but these are values we think resonate across borders, and there is a reason we aligned ourselves with a mix of the UN and Microsoft’s values.   Business goes wrong when it doesn’t have a moral compass.  Ours you can spell with the acronym HI HR,” says Gareth.

Technology-backed Services

Technology is the foundation of everything Lightrise does as a fully remote cloud-based organisation.  It is the key to its security and scalable success with low overheads. Gareth describes themselves as IT consultants with an HR heart. Getting value from standard solutions is what they do well, and they set up to use and implement the same tools they recommend to people. 

“We arrived as a company in 2021 and since then we’ve used AI as much as possible to accelerate our business, from marketing and solutioneering (what we call sales) through to AI operations. If we’re not innovating, we’re not learning, and if we not doing either than we’ll not be the strongest consultants we can be,” shares Gareth.

Tailored Solutions for Maximum Impact

Gareth and his team want their clients to get value as quickly as possible, so they focus initially on adopting standards, but customising the configuration to each client.  This starts however with a standard template configuration, and where the solution can’t do things, a client needs our first approach to lobby Microsoft who have a democratic approach to solution improvement. If something has a clear return on investment for a client, then they enter a design mode to meet their needs exactly.  Then Lightrise takes clients through a return on investment.

Lightrise is a small young company, but the team is proud to be looking after the HR solution for one of the largest bed suppliers to the UK National Health Service, at Medstrom. This is where they helped them quickly implement a new mobile which enabled time capture for their front-line staff.  Lightrise is also helping Oxford Policy Management, an organization dedicated to helping improve lives through sustainable policy change means a lot to us.

“What does success look like?  It’s a simple question but one that is surprising and is overlooked or forgotten in the world of IT, but keeping this question top of mind is critical.   We follow the best practice approaches using Microsoft’s Success by Design methodology.  It’s unbelievable that given the investment McKinsey predicts that 90% of IT projects fail.  We are trying to focus on being in the 10% that succeeds by blending our values with a people-centered approach,” says Gareth.

Addressing the Sustainability Goals

Lightrise’s mission is to contribute a scaling % of its success to the UN Sustainable Development Goals so it is always looking for opportunities to do this.

Most of the strongest professionals, feels Gareth, she has worked with in HR are females.  He has thought about his time bringing up his son, and how those key years are so important.  Drawing from his experiences, at Lightrise, they do things with trust and results, employees and contractors know where they are heading, and each person has goals that align to this.  They’ve created a company that enables people to work remotely. He hopes they’re creating a culture where mothers (and fathers) returning from childbirth and adoption are not disadvantaged in their careers. 

“Unlike the trend of moving back to the office, we have no desire for this, and we’ve managed to attract highly skilled people that have moved on from cultures that have.  We have no problem creating a culture that works, but it doesn’t work for everyone.  Recruiting people that are happy with this approach is key,” shares Gareth.

Other than setting up a safe place, for people to work and learn Lightrise has also made sure it is measuring its progress against the UN Sustainable Goals by setting up structures that will give this consistency across the years.  It is focused on Climate Change through its support of Ecologi to create impacts on its behalf, along with taking advantage of Microsoft’s Eco-cloud credentials and commitments.  

Plans Ahead

Lightrise Consulting has demonstrated that it doesn’t take a huge amount of travel and conference budget to stay up to date.  It’s important for the team to find alliances, and people that demonstrate a growth mindset, and it’s something they look for when recruiting.  Most of their learning comes from practice, internal projects, blogs, virtual networks/conferences and the huge community which has developed around Microsoft in the last few years.  

Going forward, Gareth Jones and the team are looking to be the most trusted Microsoft Partner for ESG and HR. Their plans include the UK, USA and Europe before they start to replicate their model and spread prosperity in developing economies where the positive impacts they’ve modelled can be spread further.  There is a blueprint for a higher quality of life and a better future.

A Quote to Live By:

Gareth Jones finds strength to carry on with the following story:

In Aesop’s fable “The Sun and the Wind,” the two elements argue over who is stronger. To settle the dispute, they challenge each other to make a traveller remove his cloak. The Wind blows fiercely, but the traveller only wraps his cloak tighter. Then, the Sun shines warmly, and the traveller soon takes off his cloak. You make more progress and have a richer experience of life, and on others’ lives when you are the sun.

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A seasoned entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, Jigar Sagar has played a pivotal role in shaping the UAE’s dynamic business landscape. With a proven track record of building and scaling successful ventures, he has created over 31 companies collectively valued at over $350 million. Sagar’s strategic vision and financial acumen have enabled him to hone his distinctive approach of creating blue oceans within red oceans, redefining industry standards. 

Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavours, Sagar is a passionate mentor and investor, actively supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and fostering a thriving global startup ecosystem. His recent successful exit from Creative Zone, a leading business setup and consultancy firm in the UAE, further solidifies his reputation as a skilled dealmaker. 

As the founder of Ocube Services Private Limited, Sagar is now focused on providing innovative management consultancy services to help businesses achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. With his leadership, Ocube is poised to become a leading force in the industry. 

The Future of Business is Here, and it’s Personalised 

Over the years, Jigar Sagar identified a critical challenge faced by businesses of all sizes: the complexities of scaling operations without compromising quality or efficiency. Traditional methods of scaling often involve significant investments in infrastructure, recruitment, and training, which can be both time-consuming and costly. To address this issue, Sagar founded Ocube Services, a pioneering outsourcing company that offers a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. 

Ocube’s innovative approach to outsourcing empowers businesses to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and focus on their core competencies. By providing access to a global pool of highly skilled professionals, state-of-the-art technology, and flexible engagement models, Ocube enables companies to scale rapidly and efficiently. Whether it’s managing customer support, back-office operations, or specialised business processes, Ocube’s expert team delivers exceptional results. 

As Jigar Sagar himself puts it, “We’re committed to offering solutions that not only save time and costs but also empower companies to focus on what matters most.” A company that provides multi-channel contact centre support, high-value customer service outsourcing, and bespoke business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions, Ocube’s vision is to become the go-to partner for businesses seeking to achieve sustainable growth. By leveraging the power of outsourcing, Ocube helps companies unlock their full potential and achieve their long-term objectives. 

As Jigar Sagar explains, “Innovation ensures that we are always improving our services and offering clients the best solutions possible.” Ocube’s focus on innovation is evident in its streamlined hiring processes, advanced training programs, and robust infrastructure. By embracing the latest technological advancements, it helps businesses stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. 

Taking a People-centric Approach to Business 

Sagar’s extensive experience in fostering entrepreneurial growth in the UAE has solidified his reputation as a skilled team builder. With a track record of assisting over 250,000 entrepreneurs and facilitating nearly 5% of new business setups during the COVID-19 pandemic, he now leads a diverse team of over 3,000 individuals across various companies.  

At the core of Jigar Sagar’s leadership philosophy is the belief in the power of individuals. He recognises that a strong team is composed of talented individuals who are motivated and engaged. By carefully selecting and nurturing talent, he ensures that Ocube has the right people in the right roles. This strategic approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also fosters a positive and collaborative work environment. Jigar’s emphasis on collaboration and innovation encourages open communication and the free exchange of ideas, empowering team members to think critically and propose creative solutions. Effective delegation is another key aspect of his leadership style, as he entrusts responsibilities to capable team members, allowing him to focus on strategic initiatives and long-term vision. Moreover, Jigar’s commitment to work-life balance ensures that he prioritises personal well-being and maintains a healthy work-life integration. This balance enables him to sustain long-term productivity and remain energised and focused. Through his leadership, Jigar has created a strong foundation for Ocube’s continued success. 

Driving Sustainable Growth 

Ocube is more than just a business incubator; it’s a catalyst for sustainable innovation. Jigar and his team are committed to building a more sustainable future by empowering businesses to operate efficiently and responsibly. By promoting remote work and adopting eco-friendly technologies, Ocube reduces its carbon footprint and sets a positive example for other organisations. Furthermore, by helping businesses optimise their operations through outsourcing, Ocube indirectly contributes to resource conservation and waste reduction. Ocube’s focus on sustainability also aligns with global efforts to create a more sustainable planet. By empowering businesses to operate efficiently and responsibly, Ocube is playing a vital role in driving sustainable growth. 

The Future of Outsourcing as Jigar Sees it 

Jigar Sagar envisions a future where the outsourcing industry will undergo a significant transformation driven by automation, AI, and remote work technologies. In the next five years, he anticipates that businesses will increasingly rely on digital outsourcing platforms that enable seamless cross-border collaboration. To stay ahead of the curve, Ocube is investing in technology to enhance remote work capabilities and automate parts of the hiring and training process, which will allow them to deliver even more efficient solutions to their clients. Additionally, the Ocube team is building a more agile workforce that can adapt to the changing needs of businesses in this dynamic landscape. 

“Our next big goal at Ocube is to expand our client base internationally and enhance our technology infrastructure to provide even better services,” says Jigar. “We’re also exploring AI-driven recruitment and training platforms to further optimise our processes.” 

While navigating new markets and adapting to different regulatory environments will present challenges, Jigar is confident in Ocube’s ability to succeed. By remaining flexible, continuously evolving, and prioritising customer satisfaction, Ocube is poised to thrive in the future of outsourcing. 

Message for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 

“My advice is simple – focus on solving real problems, and the rest will follow. It’s easy to get caught up in trends or try to create something flashy, but real success comes from providing value. Build strong networks, don’t be afraid to take calculated risks, and always stay customer-focused. The ability to adapt and continuously learn is critical, especially in today’s fast-changing world.” 

A Quote to Live By 

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” This quote resonates with me because it speaks to the importance of passion and fulfilment in achieving long-term success.   

Rapid Fire Questions 

• How would you sum up your 2023-24? A transformative year, filled with new opportunities, growth, and innovation.   
• A contemporary leader you admire Satya Nadella, for his leadership in transforming Microsoft and his innovative vision.   
• A book/audiobook you are currently reading/listening to ‘The Lean Startup’ by Eric Ries—a fantastic guide for entrepreneurs focused on innovation.   
• Your biggest role model  Elon Musk, for his relentless pursuit of big ideas and innovation.   
• Success to you is Creating a positive impact on people’s lives while building something sustainable and meaningful.   

Quote: “My vision for Ocube is to be the go-to partner for businesses that want to scale efficiently without compromising on quality.”   

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SolarWinds is a leading provider of powerful and affordable IT infrastructure management software. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, SolarWinds offers a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to monitor and manage the performance of IT environments, whether on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid models. 

Trusted by over 300,000 customers worldwide, including 96% of the Fortune 500, SolarWinds delivers value by simplifying complex IT challenges and enhancing operational efficiency. As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Vice President of Security at SolarWinds, Tim Brown has been instrumental in driving digital innovation and enhancing security frameworks. Since joining SolarWinds in 2017, he has overseen internal IT security, product security, and security strategy. He is renowned for spearheading the company’s “Secure by Design” initiative, which focuses on creating a robust cybersecurity standard across people, infrastructure, and software development.

The Leader

Tim Brown’s career journey is different from many CISOs. He began as an engineer building security products, transitioned to managing product teams, and later served as CTO in various roles, including for a startup and Dell Software’s security portfolio. Eight years ago, he moved to the CISO role, bringing a strong background in invention, engineering, and product development with deep knowledge of how software is built.

As the CISO, Tim sees his role under constant evolution as cyber threats become more aggressive and sophisticated, requiring constant adaptation. He believes that balancing technical and strategic responsibilities is key to success and today, sharing insights and learning from their own previous experiences, as well as from others, helps companies build stronger defenses without starting from scratch each time.

An avid inventor, Tim Brown holds 18 patents on security-related topics and has served as a trusted advisor to government bodies, including Congress and the White House. His extensive experience includes roles at Symantec, CA Technologies and Dell Software and ITSPMagazine, where he contributed significantly to cybersecurity strategies.

Leading from the Front

Tim’s leadership and expertise were instrumental in navigating SolarWinds through one of the most significant cybersecurity incidents in recent history. His leadership was pivotal during the response to the SUNBURST attack in December 2020, where he led remediation efforts and worked closely with customers to ensure their security. Tim Brown led the incident response team to quickly identify and mitigate the breach. This involved isolating affected systems and working to understand the scope of the attack. He ensured transparent and timely communication with SolarWinds’ customers, providing them with the necessary information and guidance to protect their own environments.

Tim coordinated closely with government agencies and cybersecurity experts to investigate the attack and enhance security measures. Post-attack, he spearheaded the “Secure by Design” initiative, focusing on strengthening security across all aspects of SolarWinds’ operations, from software development to internal processes. He oversaw the remediation efforts, ensuring that vulnerabilities were addressed and systems were fortified against future threats.

Tim’s focus is now on ensuring that the team is always prepared for potential cybersecurity incidents. “Two important ways we prepare our teams are through red team exercises and fostering a security-focused culture. Instead of generic yearly training, we personalize training for each department, helping them internalize specific threats relevant to their roles. This way, when an incident ever does occur, people recognize it and can act quickly,” he shares.

Empowering Organizations

SolarWinds offers a comprehensive suite of IT management and observability solutions designed to simplify the complexities of modern IT environments. Their platform provides full-stack observability, enabling organizations to monitor and manage their entire IT infrastructure, from on-premises to multi-cloud environments. Key products include network management tools, database performance management, and IT service management solutions. These tools help IT professionals gain deep insights into system performance, streamline operations, and enhance overall efficiency.

One of the standout features of SolarWinds is its focus on hybrid cloud observability, which allows businesses to seamlessly transition between on-premises and cloud environments while maintaining optimal performance and security. Additionally, SolarWinds leverages AI to enhance IT service management, automating repetitive tasks and improving ticket resolution times. This not only boosts productivity but also ensures a better user experience for employees and customers alike. With a strong emphasis on ease of use and value, SolarWinds continues to be a trusted partner for organizations looking to optimize their IT operations.

Innovative Solutions

Tim Brown is excited about some of SolarWinds’ latest innovations around its comprehensive observability solutions. SolarWinds Observability works by providing full-stack visibility across on-prem and cloud environments, which gives customers the flexibility to choose how they monitor and manage their systems. The solutions – and their adaptable deployment options – really help customers meet the needs of increasingly complex hybrid IT infrastructures.

Incorporating customer feedback has been a huge part of SolarWinds’ product development process – they continuously listen and directly integrate customers’ suggestions into their products. These incorporations enhance their solutions and help the customers adapt to the ever-changing landscape.

Enhancing Security and Resilience

The “Secure by Design” initiative by SolarWinds is a comprehensive approach to enhancing cybersecurity and resilience within their software development processes. Launched in response to the SUNBURST cyberattack, this initiative focuses on creating a more secure environment through several key principles, including transparency, maximum visibility, and an “assume breach” mindset. 

SolarWinds has developed a Next-Generation Build System to ensure a resilient build environment and has implemented rigorous security practices such as frequent red and purple teaming, auditing, and community collaboration to support cyber resiliency. This initiative underscores SolarWinds’ commitment to leading the industry in secure software development and protecting its customers from sophisticated cyber threats.

Organizations can significantly benefit from SolarWinds’ “Secure by Design” initiative in several ways. Firstly, by adopting the enhanced security measures and practices embedded in SolarWinds’ software development process, organizations can reduce their vulnerability to cyber threats. The initiative’s focus on transparency and maximum visibility ensures that potential security issues are identified and addressed promptly, minimizing the risk of breaches.

Additionally, the “assume breach” mindset encourages organizations to be proactive in their cybersecurity strategies, preparing for potential incidents rather than merely reacting to them. This proactive approach, combined with rigorous security practices like frequent red and purple teaming, helps organizations build a more resilient IT infrastructure. Ultimately, these benefits lead to improved trust and confidence among stakeholders, as organizations can demonstrate their commitment to maintaining robust security standards and protecting sensitive data.

The Future: Threats and Opportunities

In Tim’s opinion, the biggest emerging cybersecurity threats are sophisticated nation-state actors collaborating with ransomware groups and other cyber criminals to achieve espionage and economic goals. Additionally, AI will play a significant role in enhancing attacks, making them more targeted and thoughtful.

In the next five years, Tim envisions increased collaboration among security teams globally, with a focus on sharing information and best practices. Personalized security combined with deception tactics will give companies an advantage and put attackers at a disadvantage. Public-private partnerships and information sharing need to be as transparent as the adversaries’ networks. AI will play a crucial role in this evolution.

“I’m also hoping companies stop exploiting their competitors’ cyber incidents and instead collaborate to prevent them, fostering maturity and cooperation across the industry. My goal is to foster public-private partnerships and create a transparent community for better cybersecurity,” he says.

“As the good guys, we need to overshare with each other. Too often, we find ourselves starting from scratch instead of learning from our peers. My goal is to foster private-private and public-private partnerships and create a transparent community for better cybersecurity,” he says.

Tim Brown concludes our interaction with the following message for the CISOs across the globe:

“My biggest advice to CISOs is to stay informed about compliance and regulatory challenges, which are continuously evolving. It’s important to collaborate closely with legislators  legal teams and participate in decision-making processes to ensure companies meet regulatory requirements effectively. It’s important to be part of the team that is making the decisions around regulations and not working in a vacuum.”

Quote: “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”- Henry Ford.

Quote: “SolarWinds stays ahead in cybersecurity through its “Secure by Design” approach, using next-generation build processes and a secure software development lifecycle to innovate in cybersecurity technology continually.”

Quote: “I’m excited about a number of advancements in identity management, particularly passwordless authentication, as well as automation in incident response.”

Quote: “AI’s ability to detect deviations from normal behavior will be a game-changer for breach management and defense.”

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