Analog Devices is a multinational semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital worlds to enable breakthroughs at the Intelligent Edge. Shalini Palmer, Corporate Vice President EMEA, Analog Devices, talked to us about her current job role and where the major areas of investment are in her industry.
Describe your current job role.
I’m Corporate Vice President for the EMEA market at Analog Devices (ADI). I oversee sales professionals, engineers and technologists. ADI is a multinational semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital worlds to enable breakthroughs at the Intelligent Edge. ADI combines analog, digital and software technologies into solutions that help drive advancements in digitised factories, mobility and digital healthcare, combat climate change and reliably connect humans and the world.
I often deal directly with customers, of which we have over 100,000 globally, to ensure we’re delivering solutions perfectly designed to address their toughest challenges. This might be easy-to-integrate electric vehicle battery management systems, sensor technology to boost productivity on factory floors or reducing power usage in network radio unit base towers.
While based in the London office, I frequently travel to visit clients and regional offices around Europe. My day-to-day focus is on building strong customer relationships, fostering collaboration with partners, nurturing the talented people in my teams and using market insight at the EMEA level to strategise for future growth.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
Re-invigorating the automotive team at Analog Devices is definitely on the list. When I took on the challenge in 2021, I considered it my opportunity to strengthen the business arm and ensure we were working to establish ADI as a leading technology provider within the automotive industry. During this time, I was promoted to Vice President of Sales for the automotive, communications and consumer business across EMEA.
The transformation involved finding and hiring new talent, redeploying skills and connecting with the business units to ensure strong alignment across teams. As a result of these strategic decisions, the business thrived on a solid growth path. My approach drove strong regional growth for the company, securing US$3 billion lifetime revenue in new business and doubling the pipeline.
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?
I have an eye for identifying gaps in teams and mentoring people as they develop the skills to fill those gaps. Equality is also central to my philosophy. I’m the European Diversity and Inclusion Lead and a founding member of the Analog Devices Women’s Network. To deliver meaningful opportunities for less-represented groups, I’ve also advocated setting up a student internship scheme and retooling the hiring process to be more inclusive. In recent years, I’ve mentored and sponsored many people as they grew within their careers.
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?
Sustainability and reducing energy costs is a top priority. With industrial power costs escalating and energy security still a big issue, there is an increased focus on bringing bills down and also a realignment with net zero goals.
In telecoms, 5G is another focus. We are working with network providers like Nokia and Ericsson to help them deliver 5G networks. We’re prioritising these partnerships to foster innovation within the market. By working together, we can find the most efficient ways to integrate emerging technologies that support 5G’s roll-out.
Heavy research and development investment is also going into electric vehicles (EV) and the technology required for retaining power in their battery management systems (BMS). This is a major focus for Analog Devices, and we are developing BMS that closely monitor, control and distribute the reliable charge and discharge of EV batteries.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
My progression into management could have been faster. If I had asked for more mentoring and advocacy support within the organisations where I spent the earlier part of my career, I could have stepped up with confidence sooner. My husband tells me I would have advanced to C-suite level 10 years sooner if I’d been a man, and part of me agrees.
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry?
Sponsoring, mentoring and asking for honest feedback can help massively. Be sure to be seen acting on every scrap of advice given and be willing to take a risk. Too often, capable women fail to rise up the ranks because they don’t feel ready to make the next move until they have perfected every aspect of their current role. If you wait too long, you will miss opportunities. Unfortunately, carrying out brilliant work and assuming others will notice isn’t enough.
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
I’m fearless. You have to be confident and vocal as a female leader in sectors like IT and automotive, and I have been able to develop that behaviour through sheer determination and drive. I’m not deterred by minor setbacks. I firmly believe aspiring leaders need strong role models for this strength of character to bed in, which is why I’m so committed to leading by example – supporting, coaching and mentoring others.
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months?
At Analog Devices, we are focusing on tighter collaboration as a means of breaking up silos and working more efficiently and purposefully. I’ll be collaborating very closely with the solutions team and the ecosystem team to create human communities focused on key topics in EMEA, such as sustainability and energy security.
In the next year, a lot of effort will be going into monetising our latest software innovations and commercialising AI and Machine Learning capabilities.
My division (EMEA) is now worth US$13 billion and is equivalent to a quarter of the business. With a target to increase annual revenue by US$5 billion by 2027, it’s incredibly important to have the right team of passionately engaged sales and marketing professionals to grow new business and up-sell to existing clients on a massive scale. Of course, this ambitious growth journey means we are hiring. We are hiring more than 30 roles within EMEA now.
People are excited about our journey, and without them, those essential sales and profits will not be forthcoming. So, a personal focus for me will be to ensure everyone feels valued and empowered to achieve the incredible success we’ve envisioned for the business.