Peter Kurz believes in living in the here and now - and looking on the bright side of life
What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
My first job was as a software developer for a CRM project. I was always interested in technical things, and I thought in the 1990s that IT was the industry that would present me with the best career opportunities.
If you were competing in the X-Factor, what song would you choose to win over the judges?
That's probably my nightmare scenario! It's a really tough question for me to answer - you certainly couldn't say I was blessed with the voice of an angel... I suppose I could have a go at "Always look on the bright side of life" by Eric Idle for Monty Python's Life of Brian - at least that way they might be laughing for the right reasons!
Should Prince William shave his head?
No. I think that those of us - like me - who are, you could say, becoming more "follicly challenged" should take it with good grace. And besides, he'd probably look a bit silly with a shaved head - and a bit out of place at royal functions!
In my dreams...
...we all live in a world without violence and terrorism.
What would you like to do next weekend? Why?
I would love to get away with my family to our hut in the Alps. It's so peaceful up there, and the silence and the beauty of the mountain
views always makes a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of a week spent in the office. I think it's important to take the opportunity whenever you can to relax and reflect in a way that you just can't do properly when you're wrapped up in work.
Your closest near-death experience?
I was quite ill in 2006, when I was diagnosed with cancer, but I battled through and got the all-clear in the end.
Is charisma or brains more important for a great leader?
Obviously both are important, but I would say that charisma just shades it. A great leader can always surround themselves with trusted aides and rely on the advice of consultants and experts to find answers and make decisions, but their main job is to inspire people - and, ultimately, that comes down to the person alone, the way they speak, act, and present themself.
Which four famous people (living or dead) would you like to invite to your next dinner party?
Stephen Hawking, because he is one of the greatest thinkers in human history; Bill Gates, because he is such a charismatic individual who has done amazing humanitarian work as well as leading a number of advances in personal and enterprise computing; plus Pope Francis, because he is bringing new thoughts and positions to an organisation that really needs them at the moment. And to round things off, Sebastian Schweinsteiger, a star player for my beloved
FC Bayern München.
How far ahead should you plan for your future?
Live every day as if it is your last! Don't waste time thinking too much about the future, when it is what you do now that shapes that future.
Peter Kurz is managing director and founder of Itelio and Docusnap
