Vera Loftis

Managing director, Bluewolf

Which tech figurehead do you admire the most?

Elon Musk. I think he is one of the great innovators of our time, yet he still maintains a commitment to his employees and to the general public through his philanthropy.

What's the biggest challenge facing the industry no-one is talking about yet?

Innovating our vision of the workforce. There is a lot of talk about AI and streamlining jobs when it comes to tech, but the truth is we will always need people. Companies need to start thinking about the ‘new employee' as much as they think about their digital roadmap.

If you could invite three famous people to dinner, who would they be?

As a lover of literature - and champagne - it would have to be Dorothy Parker, Ernest Hemmingway and F Scott Fitzgerald.

How has 2017 been for you?

2017 has been a year of massive growth for us as a company, which means my year has been challenging and chaotic, but in such an inspiring way.

What's the most extravagant business lunch you've ever had?

It was actually with a journalist. It was early on in my career, when I was trying to establish myself in the UK market and connecting with as many journalists and analysts as possible. One journalist agreed to meet with me over lunch and suggested he pick the location. Naïvely, I agreed. Since I didn't know the local restaurant scene, I had no cause to correct his choice of a Michelin-starred restaurant and turned up with more than a surprised look on my face. He later explained that he used introduction meetings as a way to cross restaurants off his bucket list. Let's just say, when people mention paying for PR, there is nothing that comes to mind faster than that meal!

Which global city best matches your personality?

London. As a transplant from the US, I am drawn to this city. It offers such a great dichotomy between the old and the new. I am able to maintain a footing in both camps, and I think that is very much me. I am a Gemini, so I blame it on that, but I always feel like I am operating between two worlds: American born, but English made. I embody an entrepreneurial sense of start-up in one of the world's largest organisations. I feel both young and so old at the same time. I am an optimist-realist.

What would be your super-hero power?

I am in sales, so it would be the power to read people's minds.

Complete this sentence. The worst thing about our rivals is... they don't even realise we're eating their lunch!

What makes you nervous?

Idleness. I think in this age of multitasking, with the pressure to be productive, the idea of doing nothing actually makes me quite anxious.

If you could eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Carbs. I think I was meant to be Italian because I could eat bread and pasta every day.

Sum up the channel in three words

Collaboration meets innovation.