My Way: Cognyte Cyprus’ David Heled shares his management style

David Heled, Director & General Manager, UTX Technologies (Cognyte Cyprus) describes how he leads his team to success while also revealing his personal approach to ensuring a healthy work/life balance.

Heled actively demonstrates the excellence that he wants to see in his team and leads with respect for the individual. He recognises the importance of a support network to succeed and, from his perspective, uniformity of thinking among managers and team members is a recipe for failure, so he encourages diversity and actively listens to different opinions. Heled also enjoys a good glass of whisky, cooking a nice meal and playing the drums.

How would you describe your management style?

Leading by example is the easiest way to describe my management style. Whatever I expect others to do, I do myself first, and I don’t mind rolling up my sleeves and being side-by-side with members of the team.

What has influenced your leadership style the most?

Our biggest asset is our employees. Therefore, I lead with respect for each individual, both professionally and personally. My philosophy is that leadership cannot be done alone, so I am largely influenced by teamwork. I surround myself with a team that I can consult with, ensuring that we are all going in the same direction and can support and implement decisions together.

What has been your greatest professional achievement?

My greatest professional achievement has been to change company culture. I have gone through several cultural transformations in my career, each one with its own challenges and achievements. Helping lead employees through the transition and come out more united and connected is a real honour and achievement.

What is the biggest/most frequent mistake that managers make?

The biggest mistake managers make is to have team members who only think, act and work as they do. Encouraging different opinions, being aware of different perceptions and really listening is important.

Who is the object of your professional admiration?

I was lucky to hear Rudy Giuliani in person not long after the 9/11 attacks on New York and I drew a lot of inspiration from his actions.

What are your favourite pastimes?

My favourite pastimes include picking up my drumsticks and playing drums, cooking a nice meal to enjoy with friends and family, or simply exploring Cyprus and discovering the many villages with my family.

CV/Work experience

David Heled joined the security analytics company Cognyte Cyprus in 2017 as General Manager and Managing Director. He had previously spent a large part of his career in Israel’s tech sector leading R&D departments, including Director of R&D, CAD & Engineering Applications at the digital manufacturing software company Technomatrix (1997-2000), Vice President at Viola Networks (2004-2008), and Executive Vice President of the digital intelligence company Cellebrite (2011-2016).

This interview first appeared in the March edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.