In this month’s Partner Hot Seat we have Stuart Little, Director at Provista UK Ltd. As we enter his world, he lets us know how he likes to relax after a long day, what superpower he wishes to own and tell us his favourite thing about his job.
How many years have you been working in the industry?
I left college in 1991 and worked with Standard Telephone and Cables for two years in telecoms. I then got my first Data Comms job working on an X25 network for a major Scottish Bank so overall been in the industry for 25 years.
What’s the first thing you do each morning?
Switch off my iPhone alarm and then read overnight emails and check social media posts on my iPhone, my working day starts before I get out of bed!
Tell us five things you do every day in your role
Operational Management Meeting
Weekly Sales Review
Meet Cisco Staff & Distribution Suppliers
Visit Customers or attend conference calls
HR & Staff tasks
What’s your number one tip when it comes to dealing with customers?
Always be honest and transparent
Name one thing businesses tend to forget when implementing or upgrading their technology
The Security of the Solution especially if Cloud Technology
What’s the number one pain point or concern your customers have?
Finding good & qualified staff and Training & Support especially in deploying and operating new technology and solutions. That is why Provista developed our Cloud Engineering and Mentoring Services.
What’s you favourite thing about your job?
Every day is different and you never know what is going to happen.
What’s the best thing about partnering with Cisco?
Cisco’s Technology and Solutions lead the market but the biggest differentiator for me is their people and how they work closely with their partners. We have had a Commercial Business Manager called David O’Neil for nearly 10 years and his support has been invaluable.
Name one device or piece of technology you couldn’t live without
My iPhone and Strava App for my cycling
If you weren’t working in tech, what would you be doing?
I tried to join the RAF when 18 years old but due to a hearing issue never joined so could have been in the forces. Otherwise I love the outdoors with Cycling, Hill Walking, Caravan and Camping and working in a business in the leisure industry that gets me outdoors would be very nice, but I suspect I would get involved in how tech can help the business.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Nothing is impossible and if you are prepared to work hard and really want to do something go for it
What helps you relax at the end of the day?
Going out for a cycle for an hour on my bike when I get home as it clears my head and releases pressure, I then usually do a bit of work later in the evening to prepare for another day but feeling more relaxed.
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
I like curry and spicy food
Which actor would play you in a biopic of your life?
Ewan McGregor as he is roughly my age and Scottish and if he can do Star Wars he will be more than qualified?
If you could possess one superhero power, what would it be?
I would love to fly.
First music single you bought?
I remember and it was 1978 and Scotland had qualified for the world cup in Argentina and I was 10 years old. I purchased the single by Andy Cameron called “We are on the March with Ally’s Army” and I still have the 7” single. The B side was good “I want to be a punk rocker” and was very funny! It all ended in tears though as Scotland were very poor at the world cup so not a great souvenir of the tournament.
Apple or Android?
Apple for me
Who would you least like to be stuck on a desert island with?
Most politicians for obvious reasons!
What’s your most-used smartphone app?
Sorry I have so many and Facebook, Twitter and Strava for personal, email and Jabber for work
In your opinion, what’s the best tech innovation of the last 100 years?
ARPANET – Advanced Research Projects Agency Network together with TCP/IP is the ancestor of the Internet and started the WWW revolution.
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