Arqiva applies its knowledge and expertise to stitch together technologies that connect broadcasters and utilities to their customers, and the content, data, information and entertainment they want. Caroline Cardozo, Director of Product at Arqiva, discusses her career path so far and the changes she has seen in her job role.
Describe your current job role.
I’m Director of Product at Arqiva and I lead the product function at Arqiva across our media, broadcast and smart utilities units. While these business units might appear different, they’re both underpinned by the demand for sharing data across devices through seamless connectivity. My role includes product management, product marketing, UX and product experience.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
Before joining Arqiva, the launch of Sky Q back in 2016, along with Sky Glass in 2021 is one of my personal highlights. I’m proud to have played a part in reimagining what we now know to be a premium TV experience, from the early stages right through to launch.
Since joining Arqiva, I’m particularly proud of our presence at IBC. Here, we were able to demonstrate the fantastic work we are collaborating with partners on, talk about the new capabilities, enhancements and products that we are bringing to the industry and touch base with our customers. It was great to see the industry recognition of a new mindshift towards the strength of managed service providers at the show and I was thrilled to be able to be on the ground to discuss Arqiva’s strong position as one of the next generation of service providers.
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?
For me, it’s all about both coaching and encouraging curiosity. Encouraging my teams to ask questions and focusing on the what and the why is a huge part of that. I’m constantly asking, “How might we…?” along with “Why?” and “What can be done differently, or improved, next time?, empowering and encouraging my teams to remain curious and be confident in their decision-making.
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?
Right now, it’s all about the journey towards IP [Internet Protocol] in media and broadcast. Today, many broadcasters are essentially operating two businesses – they’re thinking about traditional linear broadcasting operations, as well as juggling the needs of an over the top on-demand world.
The utilities sector shares a lot of similarities here, in that the balance of efficiency and getting the maximum value is front of mind for customers. Connectivity lies at the heart of both of these areas, with customers no longer looking for a one-dimensional payoff and allowing them to create savings and be more creative.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
Less regret, more hindsight – I had an opportunity to work in the States back in 2014. Looking back, it could have given me more insight into the intricacies of product management in a different environment. On the flip side, turning it down meant that I started my product career in earnest, and I’ve had a long and textured path that’s led me to present day.
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry?
Specialising will go a long way in sharpening your skills and guiding your leadership style. That being said, it’s also important to gain a breadth of experience across different roles and industries. Equally, building and nurturing a strong network is important – surrounding yourself with a space where you can freely bounce ideas off others is invaluable. I’m currently part of a collective of senior product leaders called CPO Track in the UK, full of CPOs and product leaders and it’s a great resource for collaboration and sounding out ideas. You can describe something at a macro level and chances are, somebody else has had a similar experience. Lastly, don’t forget your cheerleaders!
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to and why?
Curiosity – whether that’s understanding what makes someone tick or digging a little more into a customer problem, it deepens your relationships and, in my experience, gets the most out of people too.
I’ve always found that asking questions is much better than asking, “What’s the answer?” The minute you ask that question, a partnership is struck, and it then becomes a shared journey. This really shows customers that you truly understand them.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
It’s somewhat underrated but a list! Typically consisting of the top three things I want to achieve on any given day. It’s manageable and by the end of the day, it helps you feel like you’ve achieved something.
Another top tip is getting your story down before kicking off a PowerPoint presentation, whether that’s on paper, or in Word. That way, you cut out the potential hours spent deliberating on the content itself. Once your content is done, the rest falls into place.
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?
Over the past two years I’ve moved from B2C, D2C through to B2B – in some ways completing the circle of my career. This breadth of experience has really helped my 360 thinking. Throughout this time, I’ve noticed that the expectations of what product managers and cross-functional teams can do has evolved and the value of this role has changed – for instance how they can better solve customer problems when they take on a customer mission and really get their outcomes. I’m excited to see how this develops further!