Q&A With Barzeen Soroudi, Enterprise IT Consultant

1. Where did the idea for Wickshire Belleford come from?

Back in my school days, when one of my instructors demonstrated how to take over a computer with a USB thumb-drive. The thumb-drive when plugged in was recognized as a keyboard by the computer. Without my instructor touching anything, the “Start Menu” popped-up, a command prompt opened, commands were executed, and the command prompt closed. All of this happened in under 3 seconds, and it looked like a glitch. Most people would have no idea anything malicious was happening.

However, hidden in the background a script executed that installed a malware on the computer. My instructor then went to a different computer and remotely accessed the mic, camera, and files of the original computer. All of this from plugging in a thumb drive. My mind was blown, and it was at that moment I realized there will eventually be a huge demand for turn-key penetration testing devices. People need to see the attacks play out on their network or digital assets for them to take cyber-security seriously.

2. What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I wake up, get a cup of coffee, and read the daily edition of “Financial Times” or another tech/business journal on my kindle. I then begin to review my unfinished to-do list from the day before, as well as any pending tasks for the future. I add the tasks I need to complete today to my list, and I get to work . It is difficult to not get distracted.

One of my primary hobbies and greatest passions is History & Politics. I say “one”, because I believe they are two pieces of the same pie. Without one, you can’t really understand the other. I tend to spend about 3-4 hours a day reading and learning about History & Politics. Many people would consider this “unproductive”, and in regards to growth and profits, they are correct. However, I quantify productivity not just by working, but also by the acquisition of universal knowledge. From my experience, acquiring knowledge of the universe outside of tech, helps me to generate innovative ideas.

3. How do you bring ideas to life?

With every idea, I try to create a minimum viable product with my team. Then we scope and diagram the features and workflows. Once the workflows make sense, our designer begins prototyping the workflow via creating an interactive UI.

I always see the prototyping stage as the most important. No matter how advanced your hardware or algorithms, if the end-user can’t navigate a product, the product is dead in the water. Once, the prototype is complete, whether hardware, software, or creative content, I consider the idea brought to life. What happens thereafter is how to take the idea from prototype to market, which is a function of demand, luck, fine-tuning, and testing.

4. What’s one trend that excites you?

Decentralization. As monopoly power is growing in almost every industry in America – especially tech – there has been a growing concern for decentralization of power. Blockchain, BitTorrent, Solar Power, etc. are all great examples. I think centralization of power, especially in technology is very dangerous for the future of free thought in America.

5. What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I think my most endearing habit is that I don’t quit easy. My first business was in digital publishing. I fought for three years to win our first contract. I have learned that perseverance sometimes trumps intelligence for the success of a new business.

6. What advice would you give your younger self?

Assume less, and ask for more advice.

7. Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

A federal Information Civil Rights Act. Our generations version of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of the 60’s. People don’t realize that Civil Rights was never the jurisdiction of the federal government. They were always deferred to the jurisdiction of the States, and the Federal Constitution deferred voting qualifications to the States as well.

Up until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights did not apply to private life in every State. Depending on the State, a private business reserved the right to serve or deny customers on any basis. In the same spirit we deemed it just for government to intervene in private business to combat inequality, we need to seriously consider applying the 1^st Amendment to private business in order to protect free thought.

Key Learnings

• Assume less, and ask for more advice.
• Quantify productivity not just by working, but also by the acquisition of universal knowledge.
• Perseverance sometimes trumps intelligence for the success of a new business.