Location: London, UK
Angus Gregory is CEO of the designers of Tenjin. Tenjin is a virtual assistant combining AI with a crowdsourcing approach to make business knowledge easy to access, always current and relevant to its intended audience.
What was the most valuable piece of career advice that you received? Rather than a specific piece of advice, the most valuable encouragement I have received over my career is recognition. It spurred me on to do better and do more. Not just for myself, but because I felt I was helping the company do well and improve, it made me want to learn more.
What was the worst piece of business advice that you received? There is no specific piece of advice that comes to mind – even if it has not worked out, all the advice I have received so far has been a learning experience.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in IT/tech? Firstly, find something that you enjoy doing. Enjoyment is a massive driver to learn more. Even better still, it should be something you love doing. Also, don’t give up. It is not going to be an easy road! Finally, be inquisitive and ask questions. It shows employers you are a keen learner as well as empowering you with knowledge to further your career.
Did you always want to work in IT/tech? No, I actually wanted to join the RAF as an Engineer, but carved a path in IT instead.
What was your first job in IT/tech? Initially, I started as a trainee in a Computer Reseller in the mid-eighties. This started as a dBase programmer and customer support person.
After moving to a large rapidly growing IT Services Organisation I was soon involved in the emerging eCommerce solutions of the time. In the early 1990s, I realised the concept of a very successful eCommerce solution to assist customers procuring products and services. This was to be the beginning of Biomni.
What are some common misconceptions about working in IT/tech? It would be that you need to have a computer or maths degree. There are so many different aspects to the IT sector and there are so many roles that this just doesn’t hold up. In fact, experience from other industries can bring an array of new skills to the sector.
What tips would you give to someone aiming for a c-level position? To those aiming for the c-suite I would say:
You must always keep in mind that you have shareholders, customers and staff who all have different priorities at different times. So, knowing what those are and how to address them at the right time is key.
What are your career ambitions and have you reached them yet? I don’t think I’ve reached my career ambitions just yet. Myself and Biomni have had the privilege of working with fantastic global clients and talent so far, but there is still lots to achieve I think.
Do you have a good work life balance in your current role? To a large degree, yes. It is not always easy, but I have been very fortunate in my career to have been able to have had a pretty good balance. It is something that takes continued work.
What, if anything, would you change about the route your career path has taken? Not a huge amount. I feel very fortunate to have had the career I have had so far and it has got me to the position I am in today. But maybe to have listened to the quiet, wise people more in certain circumstances, you know the ones in the corner of the room who don’t say a lot!
Which would you recommend: A coding bootcamp or a computer science degree? I have not done a Computer Science Degree, so this may be biased on my part, but a coding bootcamp is a great way to quickly understand if this is the career you really want. Some people prefer to do hands-on learning amongst mentors, of which I was one!
How important are specific certifications? Certifications are important when you need to demonstrate that you have achieved something or have maintained a certain level in order to carry out specific jobs. However, it is worth remembering that you need a drivers licence (certification) to drive, but we still have bad drivers. So, whilst they are required it is no guarantee that a job will be done well.
What are the three skills or abilities you look for in prospective candidates? Experience (if it is a more senior role) – Not just specific subject matter expertise, but also how they respond to challenging situations, manage people and navigate stakeholder priorities.
Willingness – This is a willingness to learn and work well with others.
Attitude – Especially a proactiveness to help and support the wider team.
What would put you off a candidate? I would say arrogance – there is always something more to learn and no-one knows it all!
What are the most common mistakes made by candidates in an interview? How can those mistakes be avoided? One key mistake is not doing research on the company beforehand and this can clearly shine through in their answers.This should include what they do, who their customers are etc.Online research on all publicly available information can ensure candidates are well-equipped.
Do you think it is better to have technical or business skills – or a mix of both? I think it is best to have a mix of both. This enables you to have empathy with your wider team both on the business aspects, like client management, but also be able to support on technical challenges.