60 Seconds with Derek Corcoran

What does your company do?

Avoka is a software company with a product, Avoka Transact, that creates frictionless experiences for sales and service transactions. We make it easy for customers to apply for a loan, open a bank account, request government services or apply for government licenses on any device or through any channel. When consumers have found what they're looking for, we make it easy for them to apply for it. We make it easy to do business with our clients.

What does your job entail? What's your favorite part of the job?

Internally, I work with our product development team to ensure our product delivers a best-in-class customer experience.

Externally, I work with our clients to understand where they are with their sales and service transactions and help them understand how our product can help them deliver a frictionless customer experience for those transactions. I guess you would say I'm an evangelist, but I can't get past Billy Graham when I use that term so my title is Chief Experience Officer.

The best part of the job is getting to understand our clients' businesses: how a bank works, how an insurance claim is processed, what drives a government agency to improve service delivery to citizens and so on. I really appreciate the time our clients spend helping me understand their worlds, and I love being able to give something back by helping them achieve their business goals.

What do you do to unwind?

My 5-year-old and 2-year-old are the best distractions from work. They demand my attention when I'm around (and rightly so!). Outside of family, I enjoy technically difficult sports ─ golf, skiing and fly fishing. I'm not particularly good at them, but they do force me to concentrate, which helps me unwind. They are all encompassing activities. Having recently moved to Boulder, Colorado, I'm hoping to indulge all three of them more often as this is the place to do it.

Who is the most influential person in your business life? Why?

Probably my father. He built and repaired pipe organs most of his life (and, well into his 70s, he still does). Working with him on school holidays I got to work with someone who truly knew his craft. Pipe organs are incredibly complex and unique pieces of equipment, but he knew them inside and out. His dedication to and mastery of his profession have been an inspiration.

Another is Steve Jobs (clichéd?) ─ I've learned from Steve's attention to detail. Our messaging at Avoka regarding "frictionless experiences" and "seconds matter in the customer experience" reflect Steve's relentless pursuit of perfection and attention to detail as an executive.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon. This is a great (unbiased and unapologetic) story of one of the modern marvels of the business world. It clearly tells how Jeff Bezos is playing a long-game with Amazon. It's not about next quarter's profits; it's about building and relentlessly growing an amazing company that is transforming the retail industry in to what it needs to become. I don't agree with all his tactics or strategies, but this book is a must-read for any business leader. If not to learn from Jeff himself, then to learn what your competitors might be planning.

Ask me again in six months' time and hopefully my answer will have changed as I'll have read another remarkable book.

What is the greatest mistake that you've made and what did you learn from it?

I failed an exam in my second year of university. I wasn't an "A" student, but I'd never failed an exam before. I failed because I wasn't prepared for the exam. I've never gone into something unprepared since. I'll postpone if I have to ─ whether it's an internal meeting, a client presentation or speaking at a conference. I don't believe in "winging it". If people are willing to give me their time, the least I can do is prepare ahead of time and make it worth their while.

What was your first car?

A blue, 1990 Honda Civic. It was a fun car to drive.

What is the last personal tech gadget you bought?

My wife bought me a Samsung Gear Live smartwatch. I wanted to experience the wearable phenomenon first hand (no pun intended). It's a great device for the price. Very useful.

I recently got new work devices ─ the Moto X smartphone and i5 Surface Pro 3, and both are awesome.

Favorite TV Show?

Probably "Game of Thrones", with "House Of Cards" as a close second, but I do believe we're in a golden age of TV. The sheer volume of shows is creating some great competition for the viewer's attention. But that doesn't mean there's no garbage on TV.

Who is your favorite musician? What makes them special?

If you saw my eclectic music collection you'd understand why that's a tough question. Probably Eric Clapton. Like my father, he's a master of his craft, but unassuming. When the famous graffiti "Clapton is God" appeared, he distanced himself saying he'd love to be the greatest guitar player in the world but this was "just an ideal."

Favorite memory from college/childhood?

Legos. I'd spend hours building whatever my imagination could conceive.

What keeps you awake at night?

Avoka has an enormous opportunity right in front of us. I'm always thinking about how we amplify our message so more and more organizations know we exist, and how we can help. The banking sector was caught a little off-guard by the disruption created by mobile. Sure, they all have mobile banking apps, but they're losing customers that want to acquire new products on mobile devices.

If you weren't a technologist, what would you be doing?

I like design and marketing. I really appreciate a well-designed product and an effective advertisement.

What is your favorite sports team? How did you become a fan of the team?

I have to confess: I don't have one. I enjoy a good game of most sports on TV. but would only be passionate about my national team (Ireland) in a competition.

What's your greatest business success?

I've been part of the team that built Avoka from eight staff to over 80. And it feels like we've only scratched the surface of what that talented and ever-expanding team can achieve.