Interview Edition: Sam Pavin

Describe yourself in 50 words or less.

I’m Sam Pavin, born in France, lived and worked in the UK and currently sitting in Australia while working for Scotland. I am basically a swiss-knife of business, marketing and social media (having held various roles) now working for a startup and doing freelancing too.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working as Head of content and marketing for Nameloop, a Scottish startup aiming at disrupting contact management, both on the personal and business point of view. The company and product have a huge potential, which led me to join and the job encompasses a wealth of roles and missions, very startup and keeping me busy. We launched Nameloop for business a couple of months ago and are now raising funds via equity crowdfunding on Crowdcube, to keep growing and developing.

What led you to this?

I worked with entrepreneurs and SMBs early on in my career, before startups were a thing and really enjoyed it. Yet, I fully entered the startup world in 2010 when I took a project at IBM France which would become IBM Global Entrepreneur. Their corporate initiative for startups. I had to build everything from scratch and we officially launched, as a beta, in April 2010. I led the program for about 5 years, being involved with the entrepreneurial ecosystem on a daily basis and making the company a legitimate part of this ecosystem. That made me an intrapreneur.

The next logical step was to fully move into the startup world and that is what I did at the beginning of the year. We had quite a few chats with John (Wilmot, CEO and co-founder) and we clicked. I have worked with a lot of startups over the year and I think I did quite well in identifying the ones with the potential to grow and become successes. Nameloop does look like these, an early stage startup with a striking potential for becoming big.

What’s driving you?

In a very simple way, I would say a will to discover, learn, develop and a “no bullshit” philosophy. I strive to do everything well, become the best at what I do and keep learning. I have never had a job for which I was a perfect fit but always reached the top. Because I love challenges. I tend to say that everybody needs a mountain to climb. If you are already sitting at the top then the only way forward is down; boring and not rewarding.

Describe your typical day from waking up to going to bed.

My days start around 7 or 8 in the morning, my time (Australia), with a first check of emails and social media and replying to urgent matters. Then breakfast and some “me time”. I work from home so that means sport and housekeeping. I am back in front of the computer at the end of the morning, putting together news headlines, content for social networks and posts. After lunch, my work day really starts (early morning for Europe). Going through all messages (emails, social messages, etc.), placing calls, sending messages, harassing contacts and journos, “hustling” 🙂 Then, it’s all about taking time for content and putting together notes and materials. I tend to try and follow a structured agenda but everyday brings different problems or just urgent items so it’s all about juggling all tasks – and social media interactions. I have no specific hours for finishing but I usually end the day around 9-10 pm.

7 years from now: Where do you see yourself?

That’s a really long shot. I tend to think that I will have a settled family life but a professional life still lead by the search for challenges. I would assume still working with startups, certainly being the founder of a couple of them but maybe having moved into a role with an investment company. Being part of the future of 500 Startups for example.

Tell us about your best idea and worst execution.

I have had a few. And beyond the idea that is the trend that was really bad. I had really good, innovative ideas over the years. Ideas which were also had by others, became very successful startups and businesses. The worst execution, from me, was just not taking the leap and building the business. I was younger and not entrepreneurial enough. However, in startups, taking risks can be a winner move.

Tell us about your worst idea and best execution.

Again, it is more a life experience than an idea. But during my university years, one summer, I packed a bag, bought a ticket to London and set out, for the sake of discovering a new place and spend time in the UK. That was the plan, full stop. I then ended up getting a perfect (cheap) accommodation, finding a job in one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants and having the time of my life, working crazy hours, 6 days a week.
In the end, that proved to be the best professional – and life – experience of my life so far. Based on a very random last minute move.

What trends would you bet your money on? And how will they influence everyday life?

There are a few. For now, I would just tend to think about the smartphones becoming our major tool for everyday life. Payments are coming, electronic keys, metro passes, etc… . I think you can add ID (Nameloop is a first step towards a digital ID), passports, etc. There needs to be an improvement in security but we definitely are on the way to the one device for everything.

Then the whole IoT, wearables and electric cars will definitely keep growing but we may see a slower adoption as there is still a need for structure and global standards.
As for the influence, in a way I am not fully sure it will improve life. It will in a way but it will also bring new constraints. Just speaking of a smartphone holding our everything, you need to ensure that the battery does not die. It is already a major point with people freaking about their phone’s battery. What will it be if all data are on it? 🙂

As for electric cars, for instance, beyond batteries, some people were mentioning the lack of noise. Not only because of being used to it but also for safety reasons (people crossing a road without looking and not paying attention since not hearing any engine noise).

What seemed to be the most important thing in the world to you when you were 10 years old?

Having the ability to explore the world. Travelling on a worldwide scale still looked like an amazing adventure. Even flying in a plane was not mainstream yet. This was massive as technology was making it possible to travel the whole world, discover every country, in a lifetime. At that time, since the moon had been conquered already, dreaming of going beyond and maybe be able to get to another planet one day was also something which did seem possible.

Who is your hero and why?

I have never really been much into heroes. I have met and taken advice from various people who I could call role-models but not to the point of heroes. Although, if I have to point one person, I would say my Grandfather. He was not famous or did anything exceptional but he lived and was a great man. He was sent to war, aged 18, got seriously wounded by shrapnels and came back handicapped with the doctors telling him he would barely live to see his children grow. He actually lived on to see even his grandchildren grow and be part of their – our – life. He had this formidable will to live, would never complain, lived every day through the pain and taught me what makes a man a man and to go for things I believe in.

What advice would you give first time entrepreneurs?

Fear is useless and talk to people. Family and friends are a safety mat but they may hold you down and their feedback will most likely not be 100% honest. Socialize with people who are in business, bounce your idea off them (might save a lot of time and money chasing some white rabbit), speak. Find a co-founder – with different skills – if you are on your own. Then plan. No need for a perfect business plan at that time but, at least, a battle plan. Once set, go for it, make the most of your connections and hustle! Keep hustling!

Last, if you could time travel back to day one of your career and have 15min with your former self to communicate any lessons you’ve acquired with the intention of saving yourself mistakes and headaches, what would you tell yourself?

“Do not change anything!” I have been faced with a lot of decisions to make and like many people I could have followed a different path. But the decisions I have made and the path I have followed allowed me to enjoy life, work and live abroad, travel in various countries in the world, build new departments and a national program for startups, speak at events and in front of a crowd of a thousand, work remotely from places like Vegas, Vilnius or even Tokyo. And now, sit in Australia while working for an innovative Scottish tech startup, freelancing for worldwide customers and keeping building my life.

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