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Jimmy Tam , CEO of Peer Software
wWhat would you describe as your most memorable achievement ?
The ability to grow Peer Software into a global enterprise while remaining a private company for almost 30 years without any outside venture capital or investments has been my most memorable achievement . In doing so , we have focused on building a culture at Peer Software that is unique in the technology space where we truly focus on long-term product goals ( not short-term profits ), long-lasting customer relationships and a dedicated team that think of Peer as a long-term career and as a family of likeminded technologists and not just as a job .
What first made you think of a career in technology ?
I originally began my career in accounting and finance at one of the major global accounting firms ( Coopers & Lybrand ) during the dot com boom of the 1990s . Seeing the excitement and rapid pace of development in technologies at that time lured me away from the traditional role of an accountant to become an entrepreneur after only a few years in the corporate working world . With some partners , we started one of the earliest Desktop-as-a-Service companies in the world at the height of the dot com boom . Since that
time , I ’ ve helped start or worked at multiple global companies . However , Peer Software has by far been the most rewarding experience in my 25 + years in the technology field .
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?
My management style has evolved over the course of my career . Today , I fully embrace the philosophy of being a servant leader . My goal is to attract and retain incredible team members for Peer Software , listen to their ideas and merge with the collective goals and then to provide the support mechanisms to ensure their constant growth and success .
And though I have learned technology over 25 years in the industry and can hold my own , I still feel that having a foundation as a software engineer would have been immensely useful .
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