GET TO KNOW...
On the lighter side of things, we ask the
industry experts what makes them tick. . . .
Kirill Nikolaev,
Board Member at VIMANA Global and
Founder of BITCOIN VIP
What would you describe as your
most memorable achievement?
In 2002, I decided to start my own business,
opening a data-mining company in Russia;
today data-mining permeates just about
every organisation and I would argue that it
is the business model for several social media
platforms. But as you can imagine, back
in 2002, in the days before Facebook and
Twitter, it was quite a revolutionary idea.
It was an enriching experience and I learned
lessons that I will forever cherish. We built up
a client base of over 250 major companies
and were doing very well but, for personal
reasons, I decided to sell the company.
Starting in 2008, I began the process. It took
me about four years to come to mutually
agreeable terms with a buyer and I sold the
company in 2012.
That for me has been my most memorable
achievement; not just starting a company,
but building it up, being successful and being
able to walk away on my terms.
What first made you think of a
career in technology?
I’ve always had the entrepreneurial bug but
the decision to focus on technology probably
has a lot to do with my first computer, back
in 1993.
Not long after the Internet went commercial
in about 1995 to 1996, people were
trying to understand how to leverage it for
online marketing; how to set up a website,
etc. Using my computer and just a dial-
up modem, I started working with other
technology enthusiasts, not only in Russia,
but across the globe; on doing just this I
www.intelligentcio.com
realised that not only was it really
enjoyable but there was also money to
be made!
What style of management
philosophy do you employ with your
current position?
I’ve managed people for about 25 years now
and, over the years, my management style
has evolved. Some of it is due to my own
growth as a manager and a lot of it is due to
the fact that we are in the age of borderless
organisations, where the people you manage
aren’t always located in the same physical
office or even on the same continent!
(action plan). Once we have that in place,
and all are in agreement, I leave it up to the
individual stakeholders to get the job done.
What do you think is the current hot
technology talking point?
I think the new buzzwords are AI and
Blockchain. As a technology entrepreneur,
my personal focus is on the usage of
blockchain architecture in different areas.
I am a results focused individual and that is
reflected in my management style; at the
start of the year or start of a project, I like to
sit down with all stakeholders and make sure
we are all on the same page regarding what
success looks like (KPIs) and how we get there
“
IN 2002, I
DECIDED TO
START MY OWN
BUSINESS,
OPENING A DATA-
MINING COMPANY
IN RUSSIA.
INTELLIGENTCIO
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