The G&T Sessions

Alejandro Canonero, Founder, Builder, Leader Navigating the Wild West of AI, SaaS & Cloud Ecosystems

Jan 27, 2025

55:36

n this episode of the G&T Sessions podcast, Andrew Turner welcomes back Alejandro Canonero, who shares insights from his recent PhD research on the success and failure of AI, SaaS, and cloud companies.

The conversation delves into the chaos of go-to-market strategies, the importance of leadership and alignment in organisations, and the critical role of ecosystems in modern business.

Alejandro and Andrew explore the evolution of business ecosystems, the importance of building partnerships in technology, and the role of trust and collaboration in achieving success.

Alejandro also shares key messages from his book 'War of the Ecosystems', emphasizing the necessity of being part of an ecosystem to thrive in today's technology landscape.

Alejandro has held leadership roles at some of the world’s most respected technology companies, including Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Teradata, Documentum EMC, Criteo, and HP.

He was a founding member of the AWS Marketplace Team in EMEA and the AWS partner team for the public sector. As the leader of Google Cloud’s global partner ecosystem public sector team, Alejandro has driven new strategies that have impacted ecosystem development, social inclusion, market share, and revenue growth.

Alejandro’s unique approach to combining strategic vision with practical execution is critical to his ability to deliver results. He has created and implemented innovative programs and growth-focused initiatives rooted in a deep understanding of how ecosystems work and how to leverage them for sustainable success.

Being kidnapped and surviving the experience pushed him out of his country, where he pivoted and earned a master’s in business administration (MBA) in London.

Defying his challenging circumstances, he embarked on a transformative journey across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, relentlessly pursuing personal growth. He became a certified Ironman triathlon coach and conquered multiple Full Ironman races, channeling his triumphs into raising funds for the Children’s Tumour Foundation. As a scuba diving instructor and shark diver, he embraces challenges outside his comfort zone as life adventures, always looking to push past his limits and learn from every experience.

These experiences have taught him the importance of humility, discipline, perseverance, focus, grit, and mental toughness when pursuing one's life purpose. Alejandro’s dedication to evolution is not limited to his professional career or academics but to a holistic personal growth life journey.

Alejandro and his wife Veronica are raising four children. They are actively involved in the community for young girls and boys, leading them on exploratory adventures to "Be Prepared" for life.

This role as a mentor to the next generation reflects his belief in giving back and a profound commitment to helping others. His story is one of resilience and continuous growth, based on the belief that success is not only about individual achievement but also about contributing to the greater ecosystem of life by lifting others up along the way.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:05 Alejandro's Recent Achievements and PhD Journey

11:54 The Chaos in Go-to-Market Strategies

19:11 Leadership, Alignment, and Ecosystem Management

27:14 The Importance of Ecosystems in Modern Business

32:57 The Evolution of Business Ecosystems

35:03 Building Partnerships in Technology

38:10 Trust and Collaboration in Ecosystems

41:01 The Importance of Community Engagement

44:07. Sharing Knowledge and Giving Back

48:11 Key Messages from 'War of the Ecosystems’