Jason Wildt started out in heavy metal but today sings a more memorable song with Violin
What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
My first job out of college was in the heavy metals industry, pouring metal into moulds and running heavy equipment. After a University of Texas MBA, I landed a summer internship with HP, where I ended up staying for 10 years.
What is your favourite joke or the one you heard most recently?
A man sees two guys working for the council. One furiously digs a hole, the other quickly fills it in again. Confused, he asks why. The digger leans on his shovel, and replies: "The lazy bum who plants the trees is sick again today."
In my dreams...
...the paperwork behind signing up new partners would take much less time.
If you had to choose just one leisure activity, which would you choose: an art or a sport?
It would have to be a sport as I love being outside. I also find that I have my best ideas after being active.
Oranges or bananas?
Bananas. They give you an immediate energy boost.
What never fails to make you laugh?
My kids. They are so young and yet their view of the world is sometimes so spot on that it makes me wonder what all the fuss we make is about.
Do you or have you read ChannelWeb.co.uk on your mobile phone or other handheld device?
I travel most of the time for my job so I need to grab news whenever and wherever I can. I can read it on any device I take with me, ensuring I never miss a big story.
Will there always be value in printed books and magazines?
I don't believe that it will always be the case. With e-readers and a connected world, physical media will eventually go the way of stone tablets. At least, until your battery
runs out.
Is there a long-term future for IT distribution?
Distributors offer a "clean" and swift way to grow a vendor's channel base. To achieve the same channel footprint directly would take much longer and much, much more money.
Can politicians ever be trusted on IT?
I'm not sure I trust them with anything else; why should IT be different?
What are the characteristics of the perfect channel partner?
The best channel partners are the ones that want to be number one in their space and are not afraid to say it. These partners have the passion and drive to succeed. I can help with technology know-how and commercial aspects - they have to bring that passion and drive.
What are you reading?
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape our Decisions, by Dan Ariely. I find it fascinating how irrational people are - we don't pick the "best" choice - and that this irrationality is actually predictable.
If you were king or queen, what would you do first?
Drive a car that doesn't have a registration plate. It would feel very James Bond.
What was the last film you saw and what did you think of it?
Side Effects. Halfway through, the storyline changes and I honestly didn't see it coming. It transforms from a fairly regular tale of depression into one of duplicity and shams, with plenty of twists.
How do you try to cheer yourself up when you're feeling down?
I put my iPod on and go out for a long run; it always helps me to clear my mind and I find that it's also a great way to come up with
fresh ideas.
Jason Wildt is EMEA partner director at Violin Memory
