element | e-Newsletter from IridiumGroup

Leon Samuel

1. Where were you born and raised? Educated?
Born in London. Raised in Chelsea, London and schooled in Berkshire, then at London and Oxford Universities.

2. When did you move to New York? What was the main factor in your decision to become an American citizen?
I moved to New York in 2000. I love to embrace cultural change, to feel immersed and part of the most energetic, vibrant city where we live and breathe the American Dream.

3. How did you first become interested in emerging technologies like mobile services?
I remember having a "brick" in my first car and being amazed that within a space of a few months I was able to carry a hand held version, just like a Star Trek Communicator! I became fascinated in the rate of change of technology and became an advocate for the adoption of emerging technologies in large corporations such as Hanson and BOC Group.

4. What is most surprising in the development of mobile communications and devices today?
The ability to have real time interactions, increasingly on a personal level. The lines for "business" and "personal" technology and hardware have now become blurred beyond recognition.

5. What is the most unique thing you have ever done? Surprise us.
I built a championship golf course at the age of 27 with a professional golf course designer and an environmental expert, leading lawyers and surveyors in England - all pretty much self financed - and sold it tax free! That was a fantastic, unique learning experience in envisioning a project and bringing it to life within one year.

6. What goals do you have personally? Where do you see yourself in 2015?
I am very lucky to be so interested in a sector that is under constant, rapid change with no specific maturity result in sight. And, like the sector, I will probably have re-invented myself a couple of times by then and be a blockbuster Hollywood movie producer!

7. A large part of the work you have done is with one of the world's largest online and TV retailers. Where are you most effective for any organization considering a presence in the world of mobile services and Apps?
I have found that the ultimate driver is the user-experience of the technology. Is it easy to use? Does it meet the expectations of speed and convenience? Does the technology make a significant difference in the users ability to connect with the brand in a meaningful and more personal way than ever before? I think the focus on adoption, usability, flexibility and re-invention are the key drivers for mobile apps and services.

8. What device are you working on right now? Blackberry or iPhone?
I did have a fabulous Blackberry Curve, and I miss the speed of typing on that when I use my iPhone, however the iPhone has provided me with web/cloud connectivity that seems at the moment to still be a market leader in display and usability. But I do believe other mash-up technologies are catching up fast to what has become the industry leading smart phone. I think the main limiting factor is the availability of very high speed secure wireless broadband.

9. What led you to pursue a career in mobile technologies, was there a moment or event of importance?
Around the time that the Y2K bug was being discovered, I was heavily involved with a rapidly growing company called Imago QA, which had established itself as a leader in Software Testing Methodologies. I began to understand that the research, selection, development, commercialization, and adoption of a suite of technologies often meant suspending the schedule, making the best selection from what was available and ready to use, and yet leaving the final adoption of the technology to as late as possible before roll out.

Essentially, as soon as you think you have made the best selection, the environment changes, adapts and advances, so the selection you make will always trail by a little. It is our job to try to minimize the trail, minimize the risk of using unproven technologies, and maximize impact and positive experience for the end user.

10. Share with us one of your favorite websites or mobile applications. Why do you find it clever or engaging?
I really enjoyed the mobitv app which I used wherever I could during the World Cup to watch the games when I could not be in front of a computer or TV. I found it engaging because I love sports. Give me soccer, American football and baseball any day!

Personal Note
Leon is running in the ING New York City Marathon 2010, and is working to raise more than $3,000 to support the youth services arm of New York Road Runners by Friday, September 24th.

If you would like to support Leon and thousands of schoolchildren, please go online to make an easy and secure online donation here:

www.runwithtfk.org/Member/PublicPage/2212

All contributions are tax-deductible; you�ll receive an acknowledgment email from NYRR.