Coffee Break: Sanjay Shah, Founder, CEO and Chief Architect of Vistex Inc.
Q: Describe your company.
A: Vistex provides software and services to help businesses take their products and services to the marketplace with state-of-the-art, go-to-market programs.
Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
A: Vistex plans to hire over 100 additional staff and increase investment in R & D including AI and machine learning.
There are multiple acquisitions planned to support its growth.
Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?
A: To significantly increase presence and revenue for its cloud offerings.
Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?
A: Provide solutions in the cloud - faster, cheaper, better.
Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie CEO, what would it be?
A: Don't follow any advice you receive.
Q: Do you have a business mantra?
A: Only the paranoid survive.
Q: From a business outlook, whom do you look up to?
A: Lee Iacocca, former Chairman and CEO of Chrysler Corporation.
Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know? A: I am a licensed private pilot.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Watch slapstick comedy shows and movies.
Q: What book is on your nightstand?
A: "Beyond the Cloud" by Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: Waking up the next morning to discover that someone else has a better solution than what we offer.
Q: If you were not doing this job, what do you think you would be doing?
A: Searching for the job I currently do.
Q: What was your first paying job?
A: Staff Auditor for PriceWaterhouse.
Q: If you could put your company name on a sports venue, which one would you choose?
A: Sears Centre Arena - Vistex Arena.
Q: What is one funny thing that has happened to you in your career?
A: As a consultant, I yelled at a senior executive at a customer that was paying top dollars for my time that he was the root cause of all his company's technology woes. He thanked me for opening his eyes.
Q: Two people to follow on Twitter and why. (besides your company)
A: Satya Nadella (Microsoft) --- Master Corporate Turnaround Artist.
Bernie Sanders --- Sheer Tenacity.
Sanjay Shah
Founder, CEO and Chief Architect
<b> Vistex Inc.</b><b>2300 Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169</b><b>www.vistex.com</b>Industry: Technology
Annual sales: $250 million
Number of employees: Approcimately 1,500
Age: 50
Family information: Married with 2 adult daughters
Hometown: South Barrington