For Eric Wang business is a game of strategy and mental agility
What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
This is my first job. I was recruited by the director when graduating from Wuhan University after completing my degree in computer science and marketing management.
Planes, trains or automobiles?
Planes as they are quicker and easier plus you can get anywhere in the world. I find the trains in the UK a little slower than at home too.
What sport should be in the Olympics but isn't?
Chess . This is a very popular sport in China, so much so that we even have a national league. Chess is about mental agility, and involves similar skills to business as you must form strategies and tactics to succeed.
What is your favourite joke or the one you heard most recently?
What has a mouth and a fork but never eats? A river.
What would your superpower be?
Reading minds because you can find so much out about people.
Do you or have you read Channelweb on your mobile phone or other handheld device?
Yes, I follow Channelweb on my phone when I'm in the UK and on my laptop when I'm travelling. It's a great way to keep up with industry developments in real time.
If someone shrunk you to the size of a pencil and put you in a blender, how would you get out?
Hopefully I'd have my BlackBerry with me so I could IM my team to come and rescue me. If not, I'd create enough friction until the blender fell on its side, and then tackle the lid until I reached freedom.
Print or online news?
Online news as its current, instant, mostly free, and you save paper thus helping save the world.
Do you use social media?
It's important to keep up to date with consumers, colleagues and friends so yes, I use it both for business and in my personal life.
Will the economic recovery continue?
Yes, there will be economic recovery but, as the government says, it's going to be a slow process. Consumers need to have complete confidence to spend, and I think that's now starting to return to the UK market.
What does the channel most need to learn this year?
As a channel we must look to take the issues that are important to consumers seriously and green ICT is certainly one of those. This is an area we are keen to develop and grow further.
The channel also needs to pay attention to the fast growing business units and individual (non-chain) vendors in the long-term.
Your closest near-death experience?
I haven't had one yet although it is tough driving on the UK roads!
Is IT well taught in schools?
In my home country, China, yes. But from what I understand from colleagues in the UK schools need to be better equipped to inspire children to learn about technology and the benefits it can bring to everyday life.
Eric Wang is country manager of TP-LINK UK
