A career that was love at first byte
Riaan Swart is the MD of tech support company Solv. He tells Margaret Harris that he knew he would work in IT after he tinkered with his first computer
What do you do at work each day?
Innovation is at the core of our business. Creating time for out-of-the-box thinking — rather than always doing — is vital. I spend a lot of time refining and developing products.
It is important that what we deliver is in line with our customer needs — and this changes as rapidly as the technology they use changes. To succeed, we have to be able to adapt, often and very quickly.
I keep my finger on the pulse by reading, catching up on new trends and seeing what else is on the market. The rest of my day is filled up with meetings, teamwork and ensuring our values stay aligned with our company vision.
What drew you to this particular career?
The love of engineering. As a kid I loved taking things apart and putting them back together again. Having spent a lot of time at our family business getting my hands dirty with construction and engineering, I truly thought that studying engineering would be my future. That was until I worked on my first computer. I helped a friend build and repair computers and from then I knew IT and computers were my future.
Initially, I worked for a friend, helping out with his business, then I launched on my own. My first business started off with seed investment of R1 000. At its prime it ran seven retail stores and turned over R67-million.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I loved the idea of being a wildlife conservationist; I’m a softie when it comes to animals. I also had visions of being a superhero — swooping in on a situation and resolving it always seemed like an attractive option. The cool red cape and flexed muscles could have played a small part here too.
What about your job gets you out of bed each day?
I love what I do, it motivates me, gives me energy and gets me to work every day. We’re building something amazing, and I know and believe we can truly make a difference through technology and optimising its capabilities for individuals and small businesses.
What about your job keeps you awake at night?
The same thing that gets me excited every day — technology trends. Technology is evolving at a rapid pace and the challenge is to find the right technology for the problem at hand. It’s not about the most expensive technology or the latest gadget, it’s about finding the right technology for the customer’s needs — from the home user to the small-business owner. In an environment that can change overnight or faster, it is vital to keep your finger on the pulse.
What would you do if you could not do this job?
I would work with NGOs and help them restructure their businesses to have greater impact. If NGOs were able to optimise their technology, they would be able to have an even bigger effect on the communities in which they work.
What qualifications do you have and how do they help you do your job?
Other than a matric, I don’t have any official qualifications. I started my BCom in 1997 and finished my first year with an above-80% average, but during my second year I got more involved in our family business and also started seeing IT as an attractive career option.
In 1999, I studied various IT courses, but didn’t do any of the exams; by that time I had started running my own business, Dr Chaos, which eventually became Chaos Computers. Solv is my second business venture.
What qualities do you need to do this job?
A genuine passion for technology and a sense of humour — running a business in the current economic climate is a challenge.
Hard work and determination are definitely prerequisites.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’d like to have an entire department helping and giving tech support services to NGOs. By helping and empowering them, we can make a much bigger impact on the greater community.