Social Media Portal (SMP) interview with Kudsia Kaker from Qatalyst Global

Qatalyst Global?s Kudsia Kaker on the forthcoming Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe conference

Social Media Portal (SMP): What is your name and what do you do there for Qatalyst Global and the Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe event?

Kudsia Kaker (KK): I?m Kudsia Kaker, event director.  I am responsible for the planning and delivery of our IT portfolio of events.  My job is to make sure the right people; topics and issues are addressed for Managing BYOD and Mobility series.

SMP: Briefly, tell us about Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe event (for those that don?t know), what is it and what will the event address?

KK: This event (on 25-26 March 2014) will bring together delegates who are at different levels in their bring your own device (BYOD) and mobility creation or implementation. There are some either creating policies, managing policies and there are others who will attend to learn from their peers to see what has worked and hasn?t so they can use that when they start creating their own BYOD and mobility policies.



SMP: Why have you launched this event and how long has it been going?

KK: This topic kept coming up in our evaluation forms of our IT conferences. When we addressed this in other agendas the level of interest was very high so we knew interest and demand would be high. There are some topics which corporations cannot ignore and this is one of them. BYOD and mobility has to be addressed by all companies regardless of size, industry and budget.

Industry speakers will be attending from multinational European companies as well as leading solution providers such as Google, Oracle and Kidozen.

SMP: Who are your target audience and why?

KK: The target audience is senior executives from enterprises in Europe. If they play a role in their companies BYOD they are our target!

These executives have a tough job. They are addressing the mobility challenges and setting the precautions framework and also providing the necessary tools, insights, training etc., to construct a successful mobility strategy.

SMP: What will be the highlights at the event and why?

KK: This will be a very interactive two-day conference. The keynote speakers and panellists will be talking about a wide range of current and relevant topics. Best practice, case studies and questions will all be a part of the agenda. We will also have good networking opportunities.  

The robust agenda of informal networking activities accompanies the conference program and meeting agenda to ensure all possible business opportunities are uncovered and explored.

SMP: What do you hope attendees will take away from this event?

KK: We hope the attendees walk with away with answers, with new ideas, new contacts and feel like the two days was time well spent. We know how valuable our attendee?s time is and have planned a compact two days that would have normally taken them much longer. We also hope attendees walk away with plans to join us again in 2015!

SMP: What are the challenges that you?ve encountered and how are you overcoming them in what you have been doing so far for the Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe event?

KK: This topic is relevant to all companies regardless of the industry so we are hoping to learn and bring some initiatives that we can use ourselves. One of the challenges has been to create an agenda that was relevant to the delegates regardless of where they are in their BYOD strategy and we feel we have broken it down to the most important and valuable topics.

SMP:  What are the high moments of what you have been doing so far?

KK: It is great talking to these guys and hearing how they have created policies that adhere to all the stakeholders? interests and to see what?s working and what is not.

The feedback from clients who have seen the agenda is always a buzz you never tire of. The excitement of a sponsor coming on board is also a real high because then you see that others have seen the value of your hard work.

SMP: What are the main social channels are you using, why and which are the most effective for the Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe?

KK: On Twitter you can @qatalystglobal which will keep you up to date on tweets about the event and #managingbyod

SMP: What will attendees find their biggest BYOD challenges and opportunities may be?

KK: This is an ongoing project for enterprises and vendors alike. The attendees are at different levels of development for their BYOD strategies so that is a bit of a difficult one to answer.  Ultimately, they want to have ROI deliverables on the policies they create. The opportunities in having a workforce able to work using their own devices and to work from anywhere are endless. It is becoming more and more of a priority and that can highlights the growth.



SMP: What is the most challenging part of building upon the brands presence in digital environments (including social media)?

KK: One of the biggest challenges for us has been about getting the right audience through social media rather than a large number. Social media for B2B is more complex than B2C and requires a larger invest of time and money.
 
SMP: What?s going to be the most interesting aspect regarding social media, social networks and/or technology for the next 12 to 18-months and why (why could this impact BYOD)?

KK: The apps world will heavily impact not only social media but also BYOD. There are a lot of vendors coming out in this space now and companies are investing in this.

SMP: What are your top five predictions for BYOD over the next 12 to 18-months?

KK replies with:

1. It will grow in demand
   
   
2. It will change
   
   
3. More money will be spent to implement it
   
   
4. More money will be spent to make sure it is an improvement rather than a hindrance
   
   
5. It is here to stay for come to the conference to see how you can get involved

SMP: Best way to contact you and Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe?

KK: You can contact us by emailing info @ qatalystglobal.com, call us on +44 203 207 9350 or visit the website.


SMP: What did you have for breakfast / lunch?

KK: I am currently eating my muesli as I type this but wishing it was a fry up.

SMP: What?s the last good thing that you did for someone?

KK: Good question! I gave up my seat on the train this morning?does that count?

SMP: If you weren?t working on Managing BYOD and Mobility Europe what would you be doing?

KK: Probably on an IT security conference

SMP: When and where did you go on your last holiday?

KK: Sri Lanka, December 2013

SMP: What?s the first thing you do when you get into the office of a morning?

KK: Make a nice cup of tea

SMP: If you had a superpower what would it be and why?

KK: The ability to click my fingers and be anywhere I want.

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