Shaping the Future of Cloud with the Strength of Local Expertise

Shaping the Future of Cloud with the Strength of Local Expertise: Insights from Nico Zeissig, VP, Cloud Engagement at EPAM

Cloud and AI are reshaping industries and organizations that face growing cost pressure, cultural complexity and an accelerating pace of innovation. For Nico Zeissig, VP of Cloud Engagement at EPAM, success stems from combining global scale with local presence, technical depth with cultural fluency and innovation with tangible business outcomes.

He shares his journey from entrepreneur to EPAM leader, explaining why local relevance is non-negotiable, how he builds scalable teams through a “nucleus” of talent and why he believes that cloud and AI together form the “weather system” of the industry. 

Today, he leads a strong Cloud practice for the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). His work bridges the gap between EPAM's global expertise and the unique needs of local markets within highly regulated industries like financial services and healthcare. 

The Career Journey That Led to EPAM

Besides having a strong affinity for technical topics, Nico’s entrepreneurial spirit encourages colleagues to go above and beyond. He started as a web developer and CMS expert for a large pharmaceutical company. Later, a transition to financial services enabled him to work on the design and development of a global platform for professional investors. 

For more than a decade, Nico ran his own boutique consulting firm. “It taught me that as an external advisor, you have to demonstrate your worth every single day — by consistently delivering measurable value to your clients,” he says. During that time, Nico had his first encounter with EPAM at a joint client’s workshop in Hong Kong. “I was immediately impressed. The collaboration, the results we achieved and the energy in the room, it wasn’t just excellent work, it was fun too,” he reflects. 

Years later, EPAM invited Nico to bring his expertise to build the Cloud practice in DACH. “It felt very natural — like running my own business, but with the power and scale to turn success stories into something much bigger,” Nico describes.

Building a Local Cloud Organization with Global Reach

Today, Nico oversees the entire Cloud practice in the DACH region. His role encompasses setting direction, aligning with EPAM’s global teams and forging deep trust with clients in regulated industries.

“My responsibility is to lead by example. I walk through the door first so others can follow," he says. "It’s also about ensuring that our clients in DACH benefit from global innovations through partnerships, industry events or cutting-edge best practices.”

A key part of this practice is EPAM’s close collaboration with all three major partners in the region – AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. These partnerships form the backbone of EPAM’s cloud strategy, enabling clients to choose the best technologies for their business while ensuring compliance, scalability and innovation.

In Germany, EPAM combines relocated experts with fresh local talent. Such teams create a nucleus of credibility and cultural alignment, while still maintaining direct ties with EPAM’s global delivery and competency centers. 

Why Local Relevance Matters

For Nico, local presence is non-negotiable. “Technical depth is essential. Without it, you have no credibility. But if you don’t bring the local element into the relationship, there’s a high chance that you’ll never get the opportunity to demonstrate your strengths.”

That philosophy has been critical in regulated industries, such as financial services and healthcare, where trust and cultural fluency are as important as technical capabilities. Creating this balance is key for EPAM. “Speaking the client’s language, understanding their culture and being physically present are all vital,” Nico emphasizes.

What Makes an Ideal EPAMer?

This philosophy of blending technical capability with local understanding directly shapes EPAM’s approach to building teams and defines what makes an ideal EPAMer. 

“The ideal EPAMer is dynamic, cloud- and AI-native and combines technical expertise with business understanding. It’s a new generation of talent. But just as importantly, they have empathy. They approach established mindsets with fresh ideas and cultural awareness,” Nico explains. 

He likes to describe this ultimate employee as someone who works in an ‘AI exoskeleton.’ They utilize AI to augment their capabilities, while incorporating human creativity, collaboration and problem-solving to make it all work.

The secret to attracting such talent? "It always starts with the nucleus. Once you reach critical mass, talent finds you: through referrals, through clients, at conferences and in communities. We also make sure the fundamentals are right: an inspiring team, meaningful projects and fair, transparent compensation. That’s what keeps exceptional people coming and staying,” Nico says.

Lessons in Client Centricity

The impact of assembling the right talent is most evident in EPAM’s client engagements, where the blend of expertise, empathy and cultural awareness helps to foster enduring trust. Nico recalls entering a major financial services program in Germany: “In our first meetings, reactions ranged from ‘finally someone who understands us’ to ‘who are you, and who’s paying for you?’” By being present, listening and combining domain knowledge with global best practices, EPAM turned skepticism into a long-term partnership.

Another case was with a Swiss insurance company, where a Cloud Centre of Excellence felt distant until both technical and business teams came together in person. “Personal contact made the difference. It allowed us to read the room, share jokes and anticipate next steps together,” he recalls. These face-to-face interactions bridged gaps, built mutual understanding and helped teams move forward in a tight collaboration. It’s a testament to the power of putting clients and their context at the center of every engagement.

Overcoming Challenges Across Regions

Leading cloud engagements across different cultural environments has its own challenges. Nico observes regional differences not only in the adoption of cloud technology but also in attitudes toward organizational change.

“In the USA, you might find early adopters willing to embrace change. In Germany, the approach is often more cautious. You must adapt your strategy based on the pace and preferences of the market,” Nico notes. 

The Exciting Future of Cloud Engagement

What makes the future of cloud engagement exciting for Nico is the opportunity to shape the future, not just respond to it. “We’re able to guide clients through this transformation and deliver real impact for their business,” he says.

According to Nico, at EPAM, we sit in a sweet spot: we combine global scale and expertise with local presence and trust. That means we can help clients build the foundations today while already experimenting with what’s coming tomorrow. AI-native engineering, sustainable cloud architectures, or entirely new business models — EPAM is not just implementing technology. We are creating the future together with our clients and partners.

For Nico, seeing his teams thrive in this environment is inspiring. “I love watching people step into this space, use technology to amplify their abilities and create business value for clients. This is the point where technology meets human potential,” he says.

Shaping the Future Together

Nico’s leadership reflects a rare ability to combine local context and global excellence. His journey represents the principles he champions, from trust and empathy to innovation and a relentless focus on business value.

As cloud and AI continue to transform industries, Nico and EPAM are positioned to lead clients through foundational change today while preparing them for future opportunities.

If you are ready to take your cloud journey to the next level, explore our career opportunities and join the team that builds a future-driven foundation across the world.
https://www.epam.com/careers