Callum Eade is the VP & Managing Director APJ of enterprise-level data platform Commvault, where he is responsible for the business across Australia and New Zealand, ASEAN, Greater China, India, Japan and Korea.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
2020 is a year of new ventures and growth. Recently, I joined Commvault, the leader in data protection and information management, to help drive growth across the diverse markets of Asia Pacific and Japan.
My background is very much in sales and business development across many elements of the IT and software industry. From this experience I can clearly see it is a very exciting time to be at Commvault.
With technical solutions that are already clearly recognised as the best and most innovative in the world by customers, analysts and partners and you add the acquisition of Hedvig, Commvault understands and delivers exactly what our eco-system requires, and in a way that no other provider can! Technology-wise, we are future ready.
As Vice President of APJ, the most exciting element of my new role is in helping customers to realise the new possibilities that they can unlock through our management of their data with Commvault’s offerings.
This allows them to be in the position to achieve the most from their data, to be data ready – ready to protect, ready to manage and ready to use their data.
During my career, I have always taken the greatest pride from building a heritage; to me this means sharing learnings and establishing new markets for others to build on in the future.
My focus is not only to win, but to grow and establish markets by building strong local teams that are completely culturally aligned to deliver in the ways our customer and partners expect and deserve.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
It’s never a dull day in my life, there’s always a surprise element, some make me smile and some serious which requires a fast decision. A typical start for me sees me in the pool at 5:30am. Travel is a big part of my role, so I can be on any time zone in Asia.
As this is typically the case, people are my job. Whether it be the team, customers, partners or engaging with the analyst and journalist community.
In the fluid world of software, as we continually refine and redefine the solutions we bring to market, there is always something to discuss. A market to develop, a vertical set of customers to engage and align, and updates to provide our existing customer suite.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Being a road warrior comes with an APJ role, so working remote – from airport lounge to hotel and even in a cab is the norm.
Technology has made remote working anywhere, anytime so seamless that working remote is part and parcel of everyone’s life. I use the ability to work while travelling for the purpose of increasing more face time with customers, partners and my geographically dispersed teams.
Speaking and engaging in person wherever possible is critical to develop trust, understanding and productive relationships. From a personal perspective, flexible working enables me to get what I need to do done and still spend time in the water training for my seven seas challenge.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
We are all combinations. I am a long-time triathlete, family man, sales leader across APJ and long-distance swimming addict. I am a very strong believer in the ability of challenging goals always to bring out the very best in people.
Whether it is personal, on the home front or at work, purpose driven goals give clarity and with bias for action, we develop the discipline that will always be work-life balance.
5) What do you think are some of the best habits or routines that you’ve developed over the years to help you achieve success in your life?
First, having a genuine love for what I do, I am motivated to make the most of every day and accomplish my goals. Staying passionate and committing to everything I do, whether its work wise or raising funds for charity, helps me stay focused and disciplined.
No man is an island, teaming for success and inspiring others along the way is critical, I have the privilege of working with talented teams at work, my wife and kids are my rock providing emotional support for everything I do, and even swimming the channel I could not have achieved success without my coach and a skillful boat crew supporting me all the way.
The one habit that I have developed over the years is my early morning swim. At the moment I’m building to my next channel swim, so mileage is around 35 – 40km in the pool each week, swimming every day. It gets me into shape and is also my thinking hour – simply organising my day or getting inspirational insights to take into the day.
6) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?
I have a go-to book that I propose to new starters. The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins. This is such a great book and I actually refer to it often. I see it as a go-to for any new venture as it holds relevance as to the challenges and opportunities that I will confront.
One other book that I love is Open, the autobiography by Andre Agassi. I love sport and business equally. This book brings so many parallels between the two.
7) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
Simple. Sleep. Self-management. If I don’t sleep and eat well, my obligation and ability to do my job to the best of my ability is impossible. I owe that to Commvault and the people of Commvault, as well as to our customers.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Richard Branson. What the guy has done by surrounding himself with A players, being humble, calculated and measured in his choices and investments is amazing.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
I grew up with a healthy outdoor lifestyle in New Zealand as a mad cyclist. I have since had the chance to extend that dream, riding and racing and participating all of the world, while balancing a challenging corporate career and a family with active young kids.
As much as these events are such an “incredible experience”, I’ve always felt a desire to do something more. In 2019, with the support and encouragement of my wife, I set myself the task of swimming the English Channel with the hopes of raising both awareness and money for childhood cancer research. In August 2019, I became the second fastest New Zealand male to swim the English Channel with a time of 10 hours and 56 minutes.
I am a cancer survivor now blessed with good health and a chance to live my best life that many others might not have the opportunity to. If there is one thing that define the success in my life, it has to be Dare to Dream Big – continue to push boundaries, help and inspire others and create a difference in this world, I believe that is what having it all is all about.
If you’d like to have a conversation with us about how you balance the grind, get in touch with us!
