This month we have Dan Maynard, Head Of Category Datacenter & Infrastructure from Ingram Micro in our Partner Hot Seat. This will be our first distribution Partner Hot Seat to date and its a great way to start. Dan sounds like a he had fun answering our burning questions.
How many years have you been working in the industry?
13 – 5 years working in an European role for a components distributor, and 8 years leading the Cisco business at Ingram Micro
What’s the first thing you do each morning?
Tell my oldest son (2 years old) to go back to sleep when he wakes up far too early
Tell us four things you do every day in your role –
- Check the numbers
- Tell what I think are hilarious jokes to the team, who smile politely
- Talk to customers
- Have at least 2 proactive hours a day
What’s your number one tip when it comes to dealing with customers?
Listen
Name one thing businesses tend to forget when implementing or upgrading their technology
Investing enough now to future proof for tomorrow
What’s the number one pain point or concern your customers have?
In distribution our customers are Cisco partners. For them keeping on top of the pace of change of new technologies, and being able to resource against that
What’s you favourite thing about your job?
The variety is fantastic – every day brings a new challenge or opportunity to do something different and learn something new
What’s the best thing about partnering with Cisco?
Same as above
Name one device or piece of technology you couldn’t live without
For work my iPhone. Outside of work, nothing, I try not to be too reliant on technology
If you weren’t working in tech, what would you be doing?
I studied Sport Science at University, so hopefully something with a sporting theme – I was never good enough at a particular sport, so maybe a coaching or development role.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
If you make a mistake – admit it and move on
What helps you relax at the end of the day?
I best say my children in case my wife reads this, although at 2 years and 6 months respectively, they are not very relaxing, but they absolutely help to switch off from the business side of the day, and keep me focussed on what’s important at the end of the day
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
Chinese takeaway
Which actor would play you in a biopic of your life?
Harry Hill – apparently I look like him
If you could possess one superhero power, what would it be?
Speak all the languages of the world – knowing the language of a country allows to fully understand the people and culture, plus I could show off on the European calls I’m involved in
First music single you bought?
In the Army Now by Status Quo – my brother made me chip in for half the cost for it when I was about 6 or 7 from my pocket money – he promised my he’d pay me back but never has
Apple or Android?
Apple – can’t wait to see the new synergies between Apple and Cisco
Who would you least like to be stuck on a desert island with?
Megan Fox – having no competition and still not having a chance with her would be pretty depressing
What’s your most-used smartphone app?
Cisco Spark obviously! But realistically BBC Sport app
In your opinion, what’s the best tech innovation of the last 100 years?
The best innovation is the speed of innovation – what we are able to do today because of technology that we couldn’t do even 10 years ago is phenomenal, and what that has the potential to mean we can do in another 10 years is mind-boggling
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