What Made My Winning $400M Cloud App Modernization Strategy Get Ton of Kudos from Executive Leadership? by Chandra Gundlapalli

Back in ‘2019, I got an excellent opportunity as Global Vice President, to lead a $400M Applications Modernization Business as the next step in my career.

First priority was to prepare a Strategy to position Unisys Applications Business Unit on the global radar. I was able to establish the needed cross-functional stakeholder partnership quickly including building trust with my direct reports (multiple senior directors, directors, and principal architects).

Based on my past Fortune 300 learning, I prepared a strategy asking the questions based on the following 3 pillars. (Tip: as technologists, we tend to focus on only tech capabilities, make sure you understand the bigger picture, tech is just an enabler).

1. PEOPLE

   

   What cultural changes including upskilling talent and vendor partnerships needed? [Check back, I will add more details]

2. PROCESS

   

   What fundamental operating model on the ground including go-to-market is needed? [Check back, I will add more details]

3. TECHNOLOGY

   

   How the emerging tech trends including Cloud/No-Code/AI are going to play a key role in helping global clients’ business capabilities? [Check back, I will add more details]

Guess what? above strategy got kudos from the COO to SVPs my VP peers to my directs and within a year I was able to position Unisys Apps Cloud Modernization on the global radar first the first time in ~40 years. And reduced attrition by 50% and improved Diversity & Inclusion engagement by >40%

Good luck creating the WINNING strategy, always start with PEOPLE, followed by PROCESS and TECHNOLOGY.