60 SECONDS TR: In what areas do you think the IT industry could do better? JA: IT needs more females and more diversity. We need to find a way to bring women into this industry; we will all be better for it. TR: What’s the best bit of business advice you’ve been given? JA: Business is about organising people to do something extraordinary and the best advice I ever received on this topic was from my Grandfather. He instilled in me two things: 1 A strong work ethic, as nothing in life comes easy. You need to find something you believe in and put your heart into it 110%; 2 Teamwork, given that nothing great is ever done alone. Find people who complement you, respect them, challenge them and empower them. Great things will happen. TR: What advice would you give a young person considering a career in IT? JA: Don’t think twice. Do it. Every company is competing digitally in some way and needs to be an IT company. Skills in this area will always be in demand. TR: How do you like to spend your spare time? JA: I love to cook. Every Sunday, we have a big family dinner and I work hard to surprise my extended family with something creative and delicious. I find it to be a great way to destress and for me to extend my love and creativity. TR: If you weren’t CEO of IGEL, what would your dream job be? JA: Hospitality. I love being around and serving people. I actually took a four-year sabbatical away from the IT industry – from 2002 to 2005 – and bought a hotel/ restaurant called MacCallum House in Mendocino, my hometown, on the northern coast of California. There’s a story here, too. When I was 15, I got my first job there as dishwasher. Twenty years later, I bought the business and the chef who hired me was still there and became an employee which was wonderful. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT KEY PLAYER WITH HENLEY EXECUTIVE MSP and Channel Recruitment Executive Search and Selection SPEAK TO US TODAY TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP WITH: - RECRUITMENT PLANNING - CANDIDATE SOURCING - EXECUTIVE SEARCH & SELECTION www.henleyexecutive.co.uk [email protected] 0333 567 4888 Town or country? Love both, but longer-term country Walk or run? Run Night owl or nester? Early Morning! The ultimate hack on sharing the planet with 8 billion other people is to get up at 3 am! Fine dining or fast food? Fine dining! Cheap calories are bad for humans and the planet. Cat or dog? Dog! I have two. I also have a cat, but dogs are a man’s best friend! Car or bike? Bike Paper or screen? Screen Vinyl or Spotify? Spotify New or recycled? Recycled Jed at Disrupt technologyreseller.co.uk 33
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