WHO AND WHAT IS
"THIS IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR"

Ross Saunders

My career started as a technical one. I spent my first few years in callcentres and desktop support for IT, followed by network architecture. I was pretty unsatisfied in networking, and decided to study programming. I then joined the world as a developer (and absolutely hated it).

In short order though, I found my technical niche in what would nowadays be called "DevOps", bridging my technical and programming skills. I spent several years in this space climbing the ranks to a senior technical specialist role in a multinational software company. I became the "go to" person for any technical issues from any branch or client globally, something I was particularly proud of.

In 2009, I was catapulted into the management and team leadership world in a rapid succession of promotions when the company was acquired. I was not prepared for the new skills that would be required, and had no idea that my technical skills would no longer be what defined me. It was a turbulent time, and I learned an immense number of (very hard) lessons through several mistakes and mis-steps! At times I felt like I was floundering in the ocean!

The Management Journey

Thankfully, I managed to learn to swim along the way and had some amazing mentors (eventually). The start was rocky, to say the least, but I had the pleasure of growing to adore management and the immense highs and satisfaction that comes from it. I'm pleased to say I've had a wonderful career in it thus far!  

Over the last 15 years I have served as a manager or executive for the following functions in several multinationals, with multiple teams reporting in to me at a time, both remotely and in-person.

Callcentre
Software Development and Engineering
Software Support
IT Support
DevOps
Information Security
Product Development
Professional Services

In all these roles, one of my biggest pleasures and joys was working with new managers reporting in to me to build their own leadership skills and embrace the world of management.

I saw this as "teaching them to swim".

The Book

Remember the mistakes and mis-steps that I mentioned? Well, over the years of being a manager I saw these mistakes perpetuated by people in teams around me, and found myself informally mentoring the first-time managers within the group of companies I worked in. This was the start of my book, as most managers felt that:

This is NOT what I signed up for

I spent a few weeks reaching out to dozens of executives, managers, and industry leaders, finding out the critical skills that first-time managers are most needing to develop when coming from a technical role. That resulted in the 5 pillars of the book:

Communications and Listening
Time Management
Delegation
Performance Management
Conflict


I took these pillars and expanded on each of them with my practical, lived experience in the companies I supported. These topics have now been expanded into workshops, online training, coaching, and ongoing mentoring offerings. There is also an updated second edition of the book on the way, detailing Remote Work, and Governance, Risk, and Compliance; two key pillars that have emerged since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other Vital Statistics

Education and Awards

Master of Science (Cum Laude) in the Management of Technology and Innovation

President's Award for dissertation on "Productizing a Knowledge Intensive Business Service: A Case Study in Software Content Development"

Top Achiever Awards for:
 - "Managing the Systems Way"
 - "Management of People"
 - "Management of Innovation"
 - "Self, Other and Social Contexts"

Certified International Privacy Practitioner (Europe)

Certificate in Paralegal Practice (University of Cape Town)

Volunteer and Board Experience

National Board Member, Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (2025 - 2027)

PrivSec Advisor, Ontario Digital Literacy & Access Network (2024 - current)

Chapter Co-Chair, International Association of Privacy Professionals (2021 - 2023)

National President, Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (2019 - 2020)

Board Member, Global Speakers Federation (2019 - 2020)

Board Advisor, Regulatory Body (2018 - 2020)


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