Derek Collins, Director of Industry Engagement and Research Collaboration, Huawei
With 20 years of experience in the ICT and research and development world, Derek has worked in the US, Asia, Europe for some of the world’s leading communications companies like Nortel and BT. He now works for the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, heading up the companies industry engagement and research collaboration in Ireland. A Dublin native living in Kildare, Derek now has the opportunity to enjoy Doneda Forest between conference calls!
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
I like Twitter because it is handy for quick news updates. I follow a range of people, those I agree with, those I disagree with because it's important that you have both sides and you're not living in an echo chamber.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
My work interests are in the arena of deep learning and the future of software. My main focus daily is working with academics and researchers on the future of technology and how AI will impact mobile phones, wearables, networks, med-tech, and the way we live. While I work in Ireland, Huawei Ireland Research Centre's collaborations stretch beyond into Europe, Asia and further afield because Huawei is a global operation in over 170 countries, with over 100,000 working in R&D and 3,000 of these in Europe.
Global collaboration is at the heart of what we do in R&D at Huawei, so this past 18 months has meant that I'm actually having more meetings than I would have had pre-pandemic, which means more ideas, more innovation, and more collaboration.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
Meeting new people, and discussing new ideas, and looking way into the future of research. In February of this year, Huawei announced that we would invest €80 million in Irish research and development (R&D) over the next two years. We are fully committed to growing our R&D here in Ireland and continuing to build on past success and deepen our collaboration with top Irish universities, researchers and companies.
The R&D goals of Huawei remained steadfast throughout the pandemic, and Huawei has increased its investment in basic research.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I was asked once by a manager, did I like my job? This question prompted me to be truthful with myself and look into the mirror. I feel that self-reflection and taking stock are a major part of personal growth, and do not be afraid to say if you are not happy. A few months later, I was on a plane to Hong Kong.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Great leadership and a strong sense of team that all members feel they are contributing to a bigger cause or goal. Having a diverse and well-balanced workforce and team members all bring different attributes, but as a unit can accomplish great things.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I am proud of many things in my life so far. The most recent would be to help build the Huawei Ireland Research Center from the ground up to the 160 plus strong talent we have today. We hired about 60 people during the pandemic, and adding new skills and characters to them was very satisfying.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I prefer to meet people at events, conferences, meet-ups, hack-a-thons, etc. Unfortunately, this has been difficult over the past while, as we re-adjusted our lives over video. To manage close collaboration, we worked together to deliver remote video platform solutions to allow access to the various forms of mediums that universities utilize for sharing and presenting ideas.
The global VPN (Virtual Private Networks) capacity was truly challenged and tested with so much traffic over broadband linking to corporate networks. In the Huawei Ireland Research Centre, we looked at ways of improving this for not only Ireland but the company worldwide. Maintaining a strong company culture was incredibly important, considering that we were all working remotely.
To help with the mindfulness and wellbeing of colleagues and partners, we had many social activities, quizzes, sports challenges, photography competitions, to name a few.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
People skills and the ability to bridge cultural divides. People like working with people they like, especially in Ireland. I enjoy outgoing types and positive thinking individuals and like to surround myself with the same passionate types.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
I wish I had known that failing at some ventures is not the end of the world. If things do not work out the way you wish, do not worry too much and don’t beat yourself up. Take earnings from those scenarios and adjust and remember it is never too late to change course. Jeff Bezos had a lucrative career in computer science on Wall Street and took on top roles at various financial firms before transitioning to the world of e-commerce and launching Amazon at 31.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
There is a sense and an ethos of doing the right thing. I feel people genuinely want to do a great job in making things better for each other and want to improve society in general. I admire the way the community can work together, business, academia and creative circles. Key learnings for us all over the past while is that we can adapt to new ways and survive. While everyone's situation is different, and some people have experienced difficulties, many have seen that it's possible to be resilient in a crisis.
Investment in research and collaboration is now more important than ever to find new innovation breakthroughs in science and technology, especially medical technology. It is vital to have a healthy and harmonious ecosystem. The Government's DTIF – Digital Transformation Innovation Fund is a good example of collaboration between SMEs, academia and large corporates to develop ideas and thinking around life sciences, medical devices, ICT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and environmental sustainability.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I am passionate about movies, collecting movie posters, going to film festivals, and I attended Film School at night in Hong Kong. That is a magical city, and I adored cinematography and the whole art of using light. In the times we live in, family is important to me and looking out for my parents. Time is precious, and life can be fragile.
During the pandemic, I joined a few Whiskey Webinar Clubs and tasting events, like the excellent events run by Irish Malts; they really have created a nice community and get great guests on to speak about new blends future directions, etc. Also, I did a WSET two-year Wine Appreciation course in the College of Catering in Dublin city many years and loved the entire science behind the making of wine, terroir, and what happens in the vineyard tasting obviously.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
The pandemic has had both positive and negative effects on me personally and on the business. But we have an innate inner strength to adapt and survive. Mental wellbeing has been pushed to front and centre, and that is a good thing. Working remotely is different for everyone, and walking, running, cycling, or whatever help is key to managing your time and energy levels.
I took ukulele lessons with a real live class online, a nightmare. At work, we ventured into quizzes, photo competitions, heath drive activities, Mandarin lessons to maintain a sense of unity and togetherness. But, unfortunately, 2020 was a year for the history books. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 put the health of everyone around the world in jeopardy, and it impacted our work, our lives, our communities, and the entire global economy.
In the midst of the crisis, technology dramatically changed the way we live. ICT, in particular, played an irreplaceable role in fighting the pandemic, reenergizing economies, and ensuring the continuity of essential services. As a result, the way we study, work, and live was completely redefined; cloud offices, online education, and contactless shopping became the new normal.
During this process, connectivity has been driving sustainable development in ways we never saw before. The pandemic highlighted the digital divide that exists between different parts of the world, showing that digital inclusion is more necessary and urgent than ever. To leave no one behind in the digital world, Huawei has continued with our global CSR initiative, TECH4ALL.
Over the past two years, we have worked with global partners such as UN agencies, NGOs, research institutes, governments, and customers to promote digital inclusion, focusing on four high-impact domains: equity and quality in education, environmental protection, inclusion and equity in health, and balanced development.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Having a mentor is important as it allows you to navigate the company. Still, more importantly, a few years back, I mentored the new joiners that entered the team through Huawei's Graduate Program; it is important to give back.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Be passionate about what you do, learn to love what you do, and try to have a unique skill, some form of currency. Do not be afraid to admit that you have mistakes and always ask for help.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Not having a clear objective in how their part of the jigsaw fits into the bigger picture. People need a sense of purpose and need to feel valued and appreciated. Just a slap on the back is required from time to time, and it does not have to be a monetary reward. People can give up or leave a company if they feel there are not heard.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"There is nothing more constant than change."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Google, Amazon, and Netflix, I admire the way they have, in a short period of time, have revolutionized the way we work and live. The way we use the internet for work and entertainment is fluid and dynamic and is now taken for granted in everyday use. Likewise, I really love what Vodafone Ireland and Eir have done, building CSR and diversity into the company's veins.
I admire Huawei's sustainability strategy, in that Huawei's vision and mission are to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. Based on the company's vision and mission, Huawei has developed its sustainability strategy, considering sustainability to be one of its priorities and incorporating it into the company's overall development strategy.
Major progress that Huawei has made over the past year in its four strategies for sustainability: digital inclusion, security and trustworthiness, environmental protection, healthy and harmonious ecosystem, as well as its contributions to the UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals).
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Being successful means the achievement of desired visions and planned goals. But that will differ from person to person and from company to company. I think the measure of success is more important and being able to clearly measure your activity that shows improvements sought after. So what does success look like? I feel we do not ask ourselves enough when setting goals and tasks and why it is important.
Learn to know what is important for any given goal or task, and do not be afraid to stop things or drop activity if not working. Bring everyone along on the journey, leave no one behind, and everyone plays a part. For example, cleaners in NASA are helping with the Space Program, not cleaning floors.