'My questionable morality in that moment paid off' - 15 Questions with Slack Head of UK Stuart Templeton
Templeton takes on Computing's 15 Questions to share his enthusiasm for the outdoors, his hopes for the future and his concern for the planet
What job did you want to do as a child?
You'll laugh, but a Wimbledon ball boy. However it soon became clear after practicing tennis in the hallway with my dad that I wasn't quite good enough.
After seeing Top Gun I then wanted to be a fighter pilot, but that didn't quite work out either!
What was your first ever job?
Officially, it was a paper round, but I also worked in a sports shop in Windsor. I've always loved sports equipment. I could've told you exactly what racket every tennis player used between 1980 and 2000. After that, I dabbled in working as a waiter and also working as a ski guide.
My first job after university was in recruiting. I fell into it really, but it gave me a very good basic level of sales training. I soon found, however, that I wanted to do something a little different and I actually used an opportunity I came across during this time in my career to branch into sales.
How would you describe your current work to a 5-year-old kid?
I lead teams that help companies to get more work done by using a messaging app.
How, why and when did you get into technology?
It was in 1998. When I was in recruiting, I actually cold-called a guy called Phil Banas who I knew worked in selling investment management software and was looking to hire for a position. The company he worked for had an office in the Square Mile, opposite Bloomberg, and I knew they made big sales. It was a bit of a conflict of interest, but when I heard about the job I seized the opportunity and pitched myself for the role from a phone box at Windsor train station. Luckily, my questionable morality in that moment paid off.
Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to work/business?
It's hard to choose just one. I would have to say Phil Banas for taking that chance on me. I also worked with a great guy, Sion Lewis, at Salesforce who was an incredible leader and who really helped me step up from my past experience to what I needed at the time.
I would also like to mention Dr. Steve Garnett. His career, which started out in the early days of Oracle, has been nothing short of impressive, given he grew up on a council estate in Liverpool and was inspired and mentored by his maths teacher.
What achievement makes you most proud?
I'm really proud to be a trusted evangelist and spokesperson for Slack and to be front and centre of the company in the UK.
I'm also really proud of the success we've been able to achieve with customers - we've helped to support and bolster some incredible organisations, including Gymshark, Vodafone and HMRC.
What's the best life and work advice you've ever been given?
Shut up and start listening! But seriously, the better you can get at listening, the stronger all your relationships will be.
What was the first band you ever saw?
Probably ‘INXS' at Wembley Stadium.
What is your favourite book / film?
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett. Not particularly highbrow, but it's a great story of struggle, commitment and eventual achievement of a goal in the face of adversity.
If you could speak to your teenage self, what advice would you give him?
I would tell him that he's not lazy or lost; that he will find his passion soon, don't worry. I wasn't really taken in by academia and I worried that not being super studious meant something about me as a person. But once I got into the world of work, I realised that wasn't the case.
What makes you laugh?
I don't struggle to laugh. I used to almost be embarrassed by how much I lean on humour as a leader, but growing up made me realise that humour is actually a really important asset.
If you could solve one major problem, what would it be?
I've gone vegan recently, due to a recognition that we can't sustain our lives the way we live them now. I think the environmental crisis we are up against should be a huge focus for everyone.
Think of your favourite place. Where are you thinking of?
El Palmar, in Spain. It's off the beaten track, where the bars are little more than shacks, but the beach is incredible and it's just a brilliant place to be. Other than that, I love to walk the dog in the Chiltern hills or get out on my bike if I'm really looking to switch off.
What traits do you most like and dislike in others?
I love to see passion and enthusiasm. It's contagious. I severely dislike selfishness in business.
Which technology of the near future are you most excited about?
I'm optimistic about how technology will enable asynchronous and hybrid work, notably by leveraging the likes of audio and video capabilities to add texture and richness to how we communicate. Some of the biggest problems with distributed and flexible work have been endless video meetings, rigid schedules, fewer opportunities to connect with colleagues and diminished time for focused work.
It's so exciting to see where the future of work is going. The pandemic has been a huge challenge, of course - one of the most challenging years in business history - but it's also been a catalyst for some important changes in the way we do and view work.