Readers' lives: At your service

This former pizza deliverer taught himself the technical concepts he needed

Patel: A holiday with friends in Miami would be just perfect

Number of staff you manage?
25

Golf handicap?
18

How many beers before you fall over?
I do not fall over.

Car or other vehicle you drive?
I drive a Lexus 300 4x4.

What was your first job?
I was a Perfect Pizza delivery driver.

How much did it pay and was that fair?
They paid me £2.10 an hour plus commission. I used to deliver the pizza in my
mum’s Mercedes, parking it round the corner so the customers would still give me a tip.

How did you get into IT?
I started Fifosys with two mates straight out of Hertfordshire University, where I read for a Bachelor of Business Information Systems and a Master of Computer Science. They were supposed to be the technical brains and I was supposed to do the sales. However, I realised they were not business-minded enough to grow the business in the way I had envisaged, so I learnt the IT side of things, starting with ITIL. I thought, if they can do it so can I.

Everyone I met when I first started said IT is difficult, and I realised that was the challenge: shifting the perception of something that seems too difficult, yet is increasingly important for business, and make it simple for people to understand.

If you were a superhero, who would you be?
I would be Superman because I can change very quickly and I can see through clothing!

Are you looking forward to the London Summer Games in 2012?
Yes, because I’m looking forward to not having to watch reality TV, as there will be something interesting on all the time.

What sport should be in the Olympics but isn’t?
Kabadi. A traditional Indian sport where you tag a person and drag them across your team’s line to win. India’s version of British bulldog, if you like.
What was the last movie you saw at the cinema?
The Dark Knight – wow, how long ago was that?

How do you relax, and do you find it easy to switch off from work?
I relax by going away and spending time with my kids – that always switches me off. But doing that is not easy at all.

Is there any future in simply selling packaged product?
There is a future in selling disposable packaged products, but these days every product has a service element. We worked out some time ago that everyone wants software as a service (SaaS), or they will when they understand it better. Nobody has enough time and resources to change quickly enough to keep up with technology advances. SaaS is the only way people will get from one product to the next and the next. The key is the huge service element.

What is your ideal holiday destination?
Australia, because I have never been , but my perfect holiday is with friends in Miami.

Is IT well taught in schools?
Schools should be more aware of how businesses are using IT and adapt the curriculum to reflect that. Overall, I think there is a big gap between school and the working world.

Mitesh Patel is managing director at Fifosys