VanillaPlus: What was your first job?
Gemini Waghmare: My very first job was repairing computers. The best part about this job – it only lasted a day because I ended up breaking more than I had fixed.
VP: What led you into a career in telecoms?
GW: While flipping through a newspaper – how un-digital –in the early 1990s. I saw a job advert at one of Canada’s national telecoms operators seeking a product manager for dial-up internet service. I thought it looked interesting, so I applied and ended up getting hired. I’ve been stuck here ever since.
VP: What has been your worst business travel experience?
GW: When travelling home from business meetings in Israel, I ended up arriving at the airport a full day after my plane departed. This of course resulted in many lost hours finding another flight, and spending 24 hours in the airport until there was another seat available. I’ll never book a flight that leaves at 00:16 again.
VP: What has been the proudest moment in your career?
GW: I’d have to say that it was my whirlwind experience pitching the idea of User Lifecycle Management to a group of investors, while standing sock-footed in a business suit on our current chairman’s mega yacht. To my surprise he invested on the spot, and without him there would be no UXP Systems today – I’m grateful to him and proud of that day.
VP: Where do you see yourself in five years?
GW: Hopefully still at UXP Systems – assuming I’m still keeping my board of directors happy. Innovating with a great team that’s helping to keep operators relevant in what will be a very different world.
