30 Questions for 30 Years! Michael O’Hara, Managing Director, DataSolutions.
At DataSolutions, we are delighted to be celebrating 30 years in business this year.
Since 1991, we’ve been working closely with vendors and reseller partners across the UK and Ireland to power their success. As a business we have grown from a team of just four people to that of over 30 and have taken on world-leading vendors in the digital workspace and cybersecurity space such as Orca Security, Check Point, Citrix, Aruba Networks, D3 Security, Arista, Login VSI, Lakeside, HiveIO, appCure, Ordr, Neustar, IGel Technology and ColorTokens, just to name a few!
To celebrate our 30 years in business, we sat down with Group Managing Director of DataSolutions, Michael O’Hara and asked him 30 questions all about his many years at DataSolutions, and what he sees for the future.
Who did the original DataSolutions’ team consist of?
There was only four of us - Me, Francis O’Haire, Marcus Seigne and Paul McEvoy.
What size is the team now?
We’ve grown to 31 people.
How has your role changed since you started?
When I joined, I was Financial Controller. From there I progressed to became Financial Director before moving to the role of Managing Director.
Were you confident that DataSolutions would be a success?
Honestly? Not at all. We started with an initial investment of £20k which meant we were totally underfunded in 1991 when the Irish economy was on its knees. It took us about three years to find our feet financially.
What has been the biggest challenge?
In the early days, it was cash management. We had to be very creative in the first few years. Since then, probably the huge daily workload associated with a fast-growing business!
Who was your biggest partner win?
We have some great partners, both in the vendor and reseller space, and we are thankful to all of them for their support and business over the years. If I was to pick out one, it would probably be Citrix because we were one of their first distributors in Europe (if not the world).
What was the most popular product you sold in your first year in business?
US Robotics Sportster 9600 modems were big back then. In terms of how technology has advanced since then, that modem would take well over a week to download a typical movie today (1GB).
Where did it all begin?
DataSolutions started in the sitting room of a mews house at the back of Ailesbury Road in Ballsbridge. But we soon grew into the kitchen and the bedrooms!
Where are you now?
Our Irish office is in Nangor Road Business Park in West Dublin and our UK office is in Camberley in Surrey.
What was the most high-tech equipment in the DataSolutions office back in 1991?
Definitely our Apple Macintosh IIx which we got from a liquidation and would have cost nearly £10k new (more like €20k today). Francis (Chief Technology Officer) spent the first few weeks tied to it creating our first price list.
What technology innovation has been most important you over the 30 years?
It would have to be the internet. It was starting to take shape in 1991 and was really only being used by academia, the military and real tech enthusiasts. The year the “World Wide Web” was launched and the advent of the Web Browser changed everything.
Why is DataSolutions where it is now?
It comes down to the wonderful team. We work hard and have a strong sense of customer care. We also understand the technologies we sell and are licencing experts, allowing us to deliver a very professional, yet personal, service.
What has been your greatest success in the last 30 years?
It sounds a bit cheesy - but building a great team of colleagues. There’s really no-one like them.
What is the most exciting aspect of your job?
The industry we work in is fast moving and constantly changing. This makes it exciting but challenging at the same time, keeping us on our toes and encouraging us to always improve.
Are there any funny memories to share from over the years?
Ten years ago, when we had one of those once-in-100-years floods and it rained for something like 36 hours, I was driving into town for a meeting the next morning and Alan (our Chief Financial Officer) called me to say that the ground floor of the office was sitting in six inches of water. Even with the weather, I wasn’t expecting to hear that and at the time I thought that the canal beside our offices must have burst its banks. So I asked Alan, “how did the water get into the building?” by which I meant was the canal the source. Alan, who was standing in the water, answered quite abruptly, “it came in the door, how the hell do you think it came in?!” And for the record, it was not the canal but a river across the road that caused the damage.
What is the single most important characteristic you look for in a new employee?
It is hard to pick just one as there are many important aspects that we look for in our staff but if I had to mention three, I look for a new employee to be capable, personable and focused.
What is the best community-oriented initiative you have been involved in the 30 years?
Every year, we pick a CSR project to support and we have helped to raise well over €200k for various charities during that time. Whilst I am incredibly proud of that, the best community initiative would have to be our current one – Techies Go Green, which is our sustainability initiative and is, without doubt, the most important initiative we will ever undertake because this one impacts on the future of our planet and our grandchildren.
How do you celebrate the business wins?
With parties!
What was the best DataSolutions party or company trip?
They have all been great, but the most memorable one was when we went to Oslo in Norway for a skiing trip a few years back. We landed in April of that year, only to find out that the skiing season had finished the previous weekend! We had to quickly improvise and switched to doing cross-country skiing and tobogganing. The trip ended up being great fun and very memorable.
Is there anything you would change from the last 30 years?
I wish I had taken the business into the UK market sooner. And I would encourage any business with a great technology or service that differentiates them from the competition to not be afraid and just go for it – enter new markets!
What is the secret to the success of DataSolutions?
Again, it might sound cliché, it comes down to the team. Without the people, DataSolutions wouldn’t be the business it is today.
How has the security landscape changed since 1991?
Massively. Security used to be an afterthought. It is now usually the first thing that people think of before they make an investment. Security is now an integral part of every business and the demand just keeps growing.
What were you doing when you were 30 years old?
Buying my first house when mortgage interest rates were 18%!
Where do you see DataSolutions in the next 30 years?
Our sector is so fast moving that it’s difficult to predict that far ahead. I do feel very bullish about the market opportunity for DataSolutions – not just in Ireland and the UK, but in other regions as well. Our business model is proven and I would be comfortable in forecasting that we will continue to double in size every three years or so.
Did you have a business mentor or someone who inspired you?
I liked Steve Jobs for his dogged determination and belief. What he achieved in his career is incredible.
If you were to attend a business dinner with three people, who would you invite?
Steve Jobs because of his vision and drive to get things done; Paul Polman (former CEO of Unilever), who set new standards on leadership around sustainability; and Elon Musk to discuss his predictions regarding what the future will look like.