Aged 26, Gavin Lyons put a promising career on hold but the risk and effort has paid off
What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
My first job was working part-time for a wine merchant called Bottoms Up while I was completing my A-Levels. I got into IT through my first permanent job, which was at Xerox, where I began work after I left school. The company offered a combination of work and study and getting into IT was inevitable as at the time Xerox was launching network-based print management solutions.
In my dreams...
...I maintain the perfect work-life balance. I would love to be a non-executive director of a few companies, ski all winter, spend spring on the UK coast, and then play golf and cricket through the summer.
What was the best business trip or junket you have ever experienced?
A trip to China springs to mind. I went to explore the manufacturing process of cashmere clothing and it was a real eye opener. Apart from being able to see the actual manufacturing process, I also became aware of the premiums charged by different brands.
If you had to choose just one leisure activity, would you choose an art or a sport?
Definitely sport, no question! It's a tough choice between golf and cricket. I find playing sport very relaxing and I enjoy the camaraderie and competition of it all.
What has been your toughest moment at work so far, and how did you resolve the situation?
The toughest decision I made was not strictly at work, but was work related. When I was 26 I decided to resign from a senior position and invest all my savings in a 12-month MBA at Henley Management College. At the end I would essentially be starting from scratch. I studied leadership, specifically leadership in venture capital and SMBs, and during the process found a start-up opportunity that was later sold to Trend Micro. So the risk and effort did pay off.
What will be the most important trend to follow in 2014?
The increased use of big data to inform decisions and identify anomalies in business performance, whether in security, operations or another IT function. The amount of data generated by IT is growing and the ability to put that data into some kind of context to highlight the differences in business performance and availability is key. And that trend will continue.
Your closest near-death experience?
A few years ago I lost control of my motorbike and came off. It wasn't exactly near-death; the most damage was done to my ego.
Is too much truth-telling bad for human relationships?
It is always important to be honest, but it is a skill delivering that message so that it is constructive and useful for both parties.
If you had your time again, what would be your next choice of career?
I would love to be a barrister. I enjoy researching, constructing and delivering a solid argument. I also enjoy pitting myself against an opponent.
What never fails to make you laugh?
The Inbetweeners. In fact I am laughing now just thinking about it! I think that anyone can relate to at least one of those characters, and I laugh every time I watch an episode.
Gavin Lyons is chief executive at Accumuli Security
