Andrew Knox, vice president of sales & marketing, MSI Data
Looking back, what personal experiences or milestones have had the greatest influence on your professional success?
From a personal perspective, having a family has driven me to ensure I support them and give them a safe and comfortable life—that has been the biggest. Another is that I became a long-distance runner (from couch to ultra marathon). This showed me that I can accomplish and achieve much more than I think with hard work, determination, and the right mindset.
What has been the most rewarding part of your professional journey so far?
Helping individuals on my teams achieve their goals. Normally when we start working, we think about what we can we achieve or do for ourselves, like raises, promotions, or trips. But what I’ve found as I’ve hit some of those goals or milestones, they don’t feel as rewarding as helping a colleague hit theirs.
What do you wish more people understood about your field or industry?
In my industry specifically, I continue to educate and urge more people to embrace technology and not push it to the side. Technology is an enabler within my space and should be invested in and leveraged.
What is one cause or issue that you’re especially passionate about, and why?
Everyone deserves access to proper education — this is critical for a person and their future. Without education or investment from others, like teachers, it is a much harder path.
What advice would you give to others looking to make a difference in their communities?
Get involved and be curious — learn first and then decide. You can always start and find out it’s not right for you and look for another place to make a difference. Even the small things can have massive impacts — especially if more people did one small thing.
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