Alexander Kardakov is a businessman-innovator. He is one of the top 100 richest people in Ukraine. I started with the assembly of computers. Now his company is the largest communication operator on the market. Engaged in cloud technologies and develops cybersecurity systems in Ukraine.
In an interview with Channel 24, Alexander Kardakov described how he managed to take one of the first places in the Ukrainian IT market.
Today you are a strong player in the IT market. Tell me, what were your goals when you started? Did everything work out as planned?.
Of course, not all and not all. When you read about the successes of outstanding people, sometimes they write: "So I woke up and decided to become great". I did not have this. Every day you do something, every day you reach something, and as a result, after a certain period of time you look - something has been achieved. Of course, if we look back now, there were failures, there were also ascents, but I'm here because I have more lifts than failures.
Why did you choose IT?.
It's very strange, but I'm probably one person in the market, who has this basic education. I went to study at the KPI - the Faculty of Electronic Engineering. From the first year I was engaged with microcomputers - that's how I was lucky. And this has become both my hobby, and the main job, and profession for life.
Tell us about the Cybersecurity Project.
Today, the country and the whole world face the problem of cybersecurity. That is, today all information systems are developed taking into account the cybersecurity. And in our country the accent has changed. If before cybersecurity was turned to data protection, so that no one stole them, for example, financial data. Today, our country is attacked by the destruction of our infrastructure, including information. One of our projects is the development of cybersecurity and analysis at the first level of these threats.
During the cyber attacks last autumn and winter, we participated in the restoration of information systems in fact on a volunteer basis. It is very important for me to make a strong team that can resist terrorists and restore information. Because all the same attacks will be and damage - too, but the question is to minimize it.
Why do we need cloud technologies?.
Naturally, we are engaged in projects that correspond to world trends - this is the transition from building their information systems to common services - the clouds. We make information systems that must replace paper carriers with electronic. So far, with varying success, what we do is more often printed and considered. Even I sometimes want to hold a piece of paper in my hand and emphasize. This is already a mentality. But I need one piece of paper, one report, one leaflet per day, to see everything.
We at ourselves struggle with paper documents. I said that if I have someone leave a paper document - I write a penalty to the employee. Therefore, no one leaves. This, of course, is a joke, but one must start with habits.
Even the same social networks, smartphones help people get used to electronic media, as once toys on computers were first set so that people are not afraid of a computer. And now, thanks to smartphones, people are gradually weaned from paper and move on to new technologies.
Through what qualities did you succeed?.
Oh, maybe he was born like that, maybe he was brought up like this. Yes, I'm not afraid to set a task - myself and others. I'm not afraid to move and reach. Yes, I'm not afraid to admit mistakes - if I do something wrong. I'm not afraid to say what I do not know. Because many people are afraid to admit that they do not know something. When they say something to me, I: "Stop, stop! And here in more detail tell me what it is". Three times he listened to the clever - and he himself became clever. Plus I'm very interesting, I ask one, second, third, fourth, and then I will have time somehow to arrange everything. In the morning I swim in the pool, and all those chaotic thoughts that were in my head, add up to new ideas. After that, I want to jump out of the pool and call and brag, but I still swim my distance.
Why did you start landscape design?.
I have a hobby and I figured it out very well. When I built my small house, I had to make a concept of the landscape, and I went in large, that is, I asked who is the best landscape architect. I was introduced to Oksana Jun. She is the mother of all Kiev landscape architects. She said she does not take private orders, but I persuaded her. We argued a lot, then we came up with concepts. She told me a lot of basic fundamentals. After that I do for myself and I advise friends sometimes.
Does it somehow help in business?.
Perhaps it helps, because landscape design is a feeling of beauty, that is, a sense of harmony. It has its own logic. As, for example, in the Japanese garden of stones - that on the one hand the composition was one, on the other - it looked quite differently. In business, too, you can look at the same from different sides.
What do you need to become a leader in business?.
At me in any business which I am engaged, the purposes are not ambitious. We are entering a segment, and in this segment we should be and all others. This is a modest goal. Well, if we do this seriously. If we do not see the way to become one of the first, second, third. The fourth. Because for each position - its own strategy, who we want to become in each segment. That is, four can still be, and the fifth one already does not make sense, in my opinion.
Often had to experience failure? And why?.
All my failures, probably because of my sloth. For example, the company works, but you see that something is wrong, but I was either too lazy to touch, or did not penetrate in time. Later, more radical changes were needed. Relatively speaking, it's one thing to anoint with greenery, and quite another to do a recovery operation. These are my main mistakes in business - I did not notice at the time or did not. It is necessary to react on time.
How has the industry changed recently?.
IT helps any business to be more effective. I laugh - these are green renewable technologies. We need only electricity for computers, a table and fresh air. If earlier the Ukrainian IT specialists worked under certain specific orders, now products and quite complex systems are being developed. And it's done well. Qualitatively made systems are a trend in the world market. Of course, there are others who compete for this place under the sun, but we are very successful, our IT people on the general background.
What are you proud of?.
I am proud of the creation of DATA GROUP. When there were communication operators on the market, a new need of a professional telecommunications operator for IT systems. I identified this with the team. And now the company is the second fixed communication operator in the market and the first for IT systems. I'm proud to have created such a company in such a difficult market, given that I had much less resources than everyone else. My pride is that the market in many companies is run by the people I took once and brought up. This is absolutely normal. They grew up and went further. They are friends. I took part in the creation of the IT community.
Can you formulate your own formula for success?.
You can become successful only in a team, but everyone must understand their goal. Alone now it is impossible. Everyone in the team must work for their goal, but it should not be very different from the goals of others. In time to cut off, who in the team is a predator, a shark, and who - sticks, and in time to get rid of luggage. Because they make more noise, attract more attention to themselves and create the effect of great activity, and the confident shark calmly goes. Therefore, for the success of the team you need to understand who and how is going, formulate a common goal. Only in this case there can be movement.
How have you changed since you started?.
On the one hand - strongly, on the other - has not changed. I'm also an optimist, I'm excited by the new ideas, I live them, until I give out. I have become much wiser. Now I look, what from idea there are risks. Previously, of course, this did not track.
Are you risky?.
If I was not willing to take risks, nothing would have happened.
A good manager should make an acceptable decision based on incomplete information - where to move and what to do. And make a decision very quickly. Long wait can not be. The faster and more often you make a decision - the more you will hit the target. It's like an athlete who pumps muscles - it gets stronger and raises more. So the manager - the more he makes decisions, the more strong and right they come out.
Are you a happy person?.
I consider myself happy, because I attract happiness and luck.