Guy Golan
Co-founder and CEO, Performanta
What's the most surprising lesson 2024 has taught you so far?
That marketing is stronger than the facts. With all the events in the world we experience it looks like marketing manages to affect people’s moral compass. Couple that with the shallowness and short attention span and one can get something dangerous here. Social media that allows every human to present opinions as facts just amplifies the whole thing. To sum it up: I think we live in an era when opinions are taken as truths and facts simply do not matter anymore. I can talk about it for hours but will leave it here.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
The one I would be very intrigued to invite for a braai (South African BBQ) is Nikola Tesla.
Nikola’s career reminds me very much of Performanta’s journey. He seemed to be always truthful to himself and the cause he was pursuing. He was exceptionally talented and created the world’s greatest gamechangers. He was often misunderstood, and he was not very good in marketing. Yet, he managed to create an eternal legacy. Performanta’s team reminds me a lot of that in the cyber world. In fact, we have an internal joke at Performanta We have to excel in delivery because we suck in marketing. One question I wouldn’t ask him is AC or DC.
Which tech or channel figurehead has impressed you the most this year, and why?
Quite obvious to me. It would be Satya Nadela, CEO of Microsoft. He is the epitome of leadership and management in the tech space. He is a CEO rather than a celebrity CEO. We work very closely with Microsoft and its leadership team in Redmond. One can easily witness how leadership starts at the top and how the morals, principles, and cultural aspects seep through the chain of command starting from the top. The level of inclusion in Microsoft is exemplary. Their honesty allows them to improve the world in a steady pace. They understand that at times they are not the best at what we do but they tackle it head on. That constant improvement is something I am inspired by.
What technology trend do you think is being overhyped, and why?
I am sure many will mention AI, so allow me to address something different. Zero Trust in cyber is overhyped. Unfortunately, herd mentality is something that exists also in Cyber. The concept of Zero Trust is not new. It is something that exists for at least two decades. COVID assisted in creating the hype. And the name ‘Zero Trust’ seems catchier. Many vendors added that expression to their offering to try and sell more. I find it wrong.
If you were stranded on a deserted island but could have one piece of tech with you, what would it be?
A submerged data centre? Nah. Very tempting to have a satellite phone or Starlink, but again, I will skip. I will probably have solar panels and an iPOD loaded with thousands of my favourite music. After all, music is one of 3 universal languages together with food and sports, for which I do not need any tech.
What's your go-to productivity hack that keeps you on track during a busy day?
Keep my northern star in my face. I do it on my laptop as a meeting reminder. Early in the morning. It sets the tone for the day in a positive manner. At Performanta, our northern star is ‘motivate to automate’.
If you had the time to learn one new skill, what would it be?
Now you are talking. I have a few:
- For the body: Riding horses like John Wayne (it just gave my age away or me being nostalgic by nature).
- For the mind: Learn how to speak cockney just because it is fun.
- And for the spirit: have a degree in anthropology, just because people and societies are what makes life worth it.