A DAY IN THE LIFE
GET TO KNOW...
On the lighter side of things, we ask the industry-
experts what makes them tick…
Dmitry Okorokov,
CEO of InfiNet Wireless
What would you describe as your
most memorable achievement?
I am very proud that at the age of 35, I have been given the
opportunity to manage a company that is not only doing well
in the marketplace – competing with others for the number
one spot in the fixed broadband industry – but also provides
employment for over 150 employees all over the world. I’m
a strong believer that you should work to live, and not live to
work. For this reason, I’m intent on creating an environment
where incredibly talented individuals can come to work, enjoy
what they do and then go home to enjoy time with their
family and friends.
What first made you think of a
career in technology?
For me, it wasn’t so much a hard decision but rather a natural
progression. At an early age, I became very interested in
technology and computers, and chose to study radio engineering.
I knew that it was the direction I wanted to go in but didn’t really
have a preference for wireless technologies. However, having got
a taste for it, it was an easy decision to make.
What style of management
philosophy do you employ in your
current position?
The most important management philosophy for me
is to look after your people: this extends to employees,
customers and our global partners. Every person within
the organisation has a role to play and therefore makes a
difference. Management is about how you treat people –
looking after their interests – and should always produce a
win-win situation. Although squeezing as much as possible
out of your employees might work in the short-term, it
definitely doesn’t work in the medium or long-term. I’m also
a strong believer in good work ethics. This extends to both
internal employees and external partners and is how you
obtain long-term success. At the core of any business is its
employees, who contribute to its success. For this reason we
only choose the best-of-the-best. We also spend a lot of time
nurturing them in order to allow them to perform at their
very best and to allow their brilliance to flow.
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What do you think is the current
technology trend of 2017 and why?
The world is eagerly awaiting the ‘next’ technology. About
ten years ago we were in a similar situation, waiting anxiously
for the next great thing. However, I believe we will rather see
an evolution of technology as opposed to a revolution: using
what already exists for new and different applications. The
application of the future will, however, shock the world, as
it will be far ahead of our time. It will set the scene for what
lies ahead and prepare the world for what seems completely
unrealistic today.
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside of the office?
I’m quite lucky in that I find it quite easy to switch off from
my work when I am with my family. I enjoy watching movies,
travelling, skiing and hiking. I try to get out of the city as often
as I can to go walking through the forest with my family or to
go horse riding. I used to play the guitar in a rock band, but a
few years back – when I wasn’t able to dedicate the time to
practice – I decided to hang up my Gibson Les Paul. Perhaps,
when I retire and I have more time, I’ll pick it up again and
play for my grandchildren.
If you could go back and change one
career decision, what would it be?
About ten years ago, the decision was made to stop
manufacturing WiMax infrastructure and instead to move to
wireless. At the time, the larger businesses felt that wireless
was the way to go, so the smaller companies followed suit.
I listened to the market and instead of going with my gut –
focusing on what we did best (i.e. proprietary solutions) – I
followed the trend. Looking back, this was the wrong decision
and perhaps my age and lack of experience came through.
That wouldn’t happen today. n
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