Name: Allan Williams
Company: Datasharp UK Ltd
Job title: Technical Director
What did you want to be when you were young? A Fireman.
What was your first full time job? British Telecom Engineer.
What is your best quality? Patience.
What is your worst quality? Do not always fully listen.
What is your favourite book? The World According to Clarkson.
What is your favourite film? X-Files.
What is your favourite restaurant? Thai.
If you could build a house anywhere in the world where would it be? Cornwall and we are just in the process of doing it.
If you could be a superhero, what superpowers would you like to possess? Flying – you’d get around a lot quicker.
Who was your teenage pin up? Debbie Harry (does this show my age?).
Can money buy happiness? Not true happiness.
Most annoying TV personality? Gillian McKeith.
What has been the best moment in your career? Joining Datasharp UK – only my fifth job and been here for 13 years.
What has been the worst moment in your career? Walking into an American trading company in the world trade centre (London) when approx 150 traders had no telecoms system (but managed to fix within 15 minutes – phew!).
What do you begrudge spending money on? Domestic bills that constantly increase above inflation.
If you only had £1 left in the entire world, what would you spend it on? Chocolate for my wife.
What’s the best thing about Cornwall? The people and places.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in life? Try and make the most of quality time spent with your family.
What makes you happy? Achieving in work and family matters.
What makes you angry? People who expect something for nothing.
If you could invite any two people for dinner, who would they be and why would you invite them? Bill Gates, very inspirational and David Tennant, one of the best ‘Doctor Who’s’.
What could you not live without? My wife.
Tell me a joke. Not really a great joke teller, but: Doctor Doctor I feel like a Dog…Doctor replies SIT!
What’s the greatest invention ever? The internet.
What’s your favourite holiday destination? The Seychelles.
When is honesty not always the best policy? When you have an advantage of getting somewhere earlier! i.e. good for brownie points at home.
What’s your #1 ambition? Finish building our house.
If you could be God for a day, what miracle would you perform? Getting rid of world hunger.
What was your biggest mistake in life? Buying a Porsche (cost me a fortune to keep on the road).
What was your luckiest break? A Career in Telecoms.
What would you like to be doing in five years time? Trying to have a little more quality time, but still doing what I’m doing now.
Describe yourself in three adjectives. Cooperative, Encouraging , Thoughtful (I hope).
This article appears in the November 2010 issue of Business Cornwall magazine
