In an interview with Insights Success, the CEO of GameIQ, Balazs Wellisch shares the key insights powering his transformative results as the Chief Executive Officer. Learn the innovative product development strategies.
Below are highlights from the interview conducted between Balazs and Insights Success:
How do you diversify your tech solutions that appeal to your target audience?
Appealing to broad demographics or even targeted demographic segments is no longer a sustainable product development strategy. Instead, consumer demand is driving businesses to develop products and services that can be personalized to individual needs. At GameIQ we strive to create products that appeal to a wide array of demographics but serve the unique needs of each individual.
Describe some of the vital attributes that every tech individual should possess.
The most successful leaders in tech today possess a passion for solving problems, endless curiosity and the ability to think holistically. Knowing technology is an essential attribute, but to truly excel, a born tech pro should be in love with technology, both past and present. It’s no longer sufficient for a successful tech pro to be confined to a niche. Sure, they may specialize in AI, security, data, etc. but they should be able to tackle any tech problem. Also, successful tech pros are good at breaking down complex problems and explaining their solutions in simple terms anyone can understand.
What were the past experiences, achievements or lessons that shaped your journey?
I was born in a communist country with very limited opportunity for success at the time. Our family was very poor, we were even homeless for a while, and the future looked bleak. It was through great personal sacrifice and incredible perseverance that my parents were able to escape the choking confines of communism and immigrate to the United States to provide a better life for me and my siblings. I’m grateful for their sacrifice and the example they’ve set for me. Their lessons in perseverance, their “never give up” attitude, is what continues to drive me today.
What were some of the primal challenges and roadblocks that you faced during the initial phase of your journey?
I became fascinated with computing at the age of thirteen, when personal computers first started appearing on the market in the mid-80s. Getting access to personal computers in a communist country at that time was next to impossible. But somehow, (and to this day I don’t know how they pulled this off) my parents were able to get me a Commodore 16. I was hooked on computing and later began developing software for both the Commodore and Atari platforms. However, my fledgling software engineering ambitions were put on hold when our family began the process of immigrating to the United States. We spent two years living as refugees in Vienna, Austria. I wasn’t able to seriously get back into computing until several years later when I ended up at San Diego State University majoring in computer science. This was where I first heard about the internet, jumpstarting my career in technology. I was finally at the right place at the right time and within a few years I was founder and CTO at a successful .com startup. A few painful lessons followed when the .com bubble collapsed, but that experience drove me to learn the proper way to run a business and gave rise to a new passion. I’ve been following my passion to build businesses that utilize technology to solve critical needs ever since.
With the ascent of pivotal and ground-breaking technological advancements, the role of technologists is continually evolving. How according to you, has this role changed over the years?
It’s no longer sufficient to have a niche in tech. Today’s technologist must be a jack of all trades, with an inexhaustible passion for learning. Innovation will continue to move forward at break-neck speeds. Keeping up with the ever-evolving world of tech will be our greatest challenge.
Where do you see yourself in the near future and what are your future goals?
GameIQ has a bright future and I see myself continuing the journey of pioneering consumer gamification for many years.
What is your advice for the emerging tech enthusiasts?
Focus on solutions, not the tech. Tech is a tool, like any other, and it should be used to make people’s lives better. Tech is never the silver bullet; it doesn’t solve anything on its own. Instead, it is an amplifier. It can amplify chaos, or it can amplify efficiency and organization. Successful solutions are built to solve problems and utilize tech to deliver those solutions. Those with the ability to combine creative thinking with the technical know-how to solve pertinent problems will become the most successful tech leaders of tomorrow.
About the CEO
With more than twenty-five years of experience Balazs is an accomplished e-business expert and successful entrepreneur who founded, operated and guided to acquisition several profitable ventures throughout his career. Balazs has an extensive background in computer science and a proven track record of business leadership and operational expertise.
About the Company
GameIQ creates gamification technologies to digitally engage consumers and reward spending. The company delivers fun, innovative and effective forms of real-time digital engagement and cash rewards, which allows retailers and brands to provide a deeper, more interactive and meaningful experience to consumers.
Source :-The 30 Most Influential Business Leaders in Tech 2018
