Dobson, Scott
A-List 2006
Job title: Managing director.
Company: Vcomm UK.
Year of birth: 1967.
Place of birth: Preston.
Career outline: I started in the comms industry back in 1990 with Logitek Distribution as a telesales trainee. After five years I joined Data Connectivity to focus on product management where I grew both Ascend and Newbridge. In 2000 I set up Expand Networks EMEA operations as vice-president where we grew the business from zero to $10m in four years. Since 2004 I have been focusing on my own voice over IP distribution business, Vcomm UK.
What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? In life, I am motivated by building long-standing friendships and this maps into my work ethos 100 per cent. I am motivated by building these friendships into mutually beneficial business relationships. There is nothing better than doing business with people you like, and finding these people is a challenge I relish.
What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? The iPod, without a doubt. In reality, it’s simply a Sony Walkman that looks nice.
What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Online communities. We’re starting to see some really interesting models evolve on the web, such as Friends Reunited, LinkedIn and MySpace. Once these concepts are more easily understood, the power of the medium is quite astounding from a marketing, contacts and relationship perspective.
Which technology would you most like to have invented? Peer to peer. The ability for everyone to share data, media and applications regardless of operating system, geography and connectivity is a very powerful concept and it’s a shame that the technology has been taken underground due to the media moguls not understanding its benefits.
Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? My biggest regret is not keeping in touch with past colleagues when my own business focus changed. Friends are for life, not just for Christmas.
If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? I would not want to swap places with anyone, simply because it’s the journey you learn from, not the destination.
What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Moving from the north of England in 1990 to the south selling comms equipment I did not understand. In hindsight, the technology moves so quickly that as long as you can learn, you’ll soon be as knowledgeable as the pros, so I had nothing to worry about.
What is the biggest success of your career? Balancing my family life with work. It has made me walk away from opportunity before, but those decisions have always been the right ones.
What piece of technology could you not live without? My home cinema set-up. There’s nothing like relaxing in front of a movie after a hard days work.
What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? The harder you work, the luckier you get, and start from the ‘Zs’ not the ‘As’.
What is your favorite computer game? Sorry, but it’s still Space Invaders.
What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? A set of golf clubs that allowed me to play off scratch (or better) every game.
What is your favorite karaoke song? Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, by Elton John.
What would be the title of your autobiography? Here Lies Dott Scobson, He Liked A Drink.
Do you have any phobias? No.
How many beers before you fall over? 7.
Number of staff you manage? 6.
What is your golf handicap? 24.
What car do you drive? VW Passat.
Number of air miles you have? 0.