Jumping for joy

The arts have their place but a thrilling moment of action, such as jumping out of a helicopter, usually takes precedence for Paul Heywood

What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
I was a kitchen porter at a hotel in Llandudno. I probably wasn't the best one in the world, but then again I can honestly say I never aspired to be.

My first role in IT was in business development at Iconnyx, a direct-sales sister of Griffin Internet. I joined the business on the day the company was named, and it was one of the steepest learning curves I have ever been on.

If you were competing in the X-Factor, which song would you choose to win over the judges?
Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin. Why? Because I cannot hit the high notes of any of Mariah Carey's classics.

If you had to choose one leisure activity, would you choose an art or a sport?
A sport. I may have one or two unresolved issues with my competitive side. Don't get me wrong, I love a Monet water lily pond as much as the next guy. But it simply doesn't compare to jumping out of a helicopter while wearing a pair of skis.

Which four famous people (living or dead) would you like to invite to your next dinner party?
I have used this answer before but I am yet to think of four better guests:
Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy;
Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby;
Will Ferrell as Chazz Michael Michaels; and
Will Ferrell as Brennan Huff.

What would you like to do next weekend?
Dyn has been continuing to grow like crazy across the globe, serving users in many countries. The ride is exhilarating. But it does mean that as a leadership team we are never too far away from our next trip to the airport. So weekends, for now, are for sleeping.

If someone shrank you to the size of a pencil and put you in a blender, how would you get out?
It depends on the size of the pencil, the contents of the blender, whether or not the lid is on, and if the blender has been turned on. In a standard pencil in a standard empty open blender turned off situation, I would probably just jump out.

What is the most important trend to follow in 2014?
Internet performance and the Internet of Everything, combining the physical and virtual world.

What is one thing you miss from being a kid that you no longer do or can do?
A six-week summer holiday! I do not feel compelled to explain.

Is charisma or brains more important for a great leader?
Neither. If I had to pick any one characteristic above all others, I would have to say honesty. Being honest empowers you to be able to make the right decisions at the right time.

What are you reading?
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek, because I was recently invited to a Rackspace dinner where the author spoke and I was given two copies. I kept one, and had the other autographed for Dyn chief revenue officer Kyle York, perhaps one of the most inspiring business leaders I have met.

What was the last film you saw and what did you think of it?
Escape Plan. Stallone and Schwarzenegger in an ultimate action team-up. What's not to like?

Paul Heywood is EMEA director at Dyn