Alexander Perri is the Chief Executive Officer at FoodShootr Ltd, a social foodie app for the iPhone available to download for free in the App Store. He’s also a professional photographer and loves to cook; find out his advice for other young professionals in today’s YEDaily…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
As the CEO of FoodShootr, I oversee all of the duties, from managing the team to overseeing sales, marketing and the project as a whole. I am also the lead designer, covering everything from app user interface design to logo design and promotional materials.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
As a food photographer, inspiration came from sharing both my love of food and photography and combining it with my passion for technology and social networking.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Being able to do what I love; working with food and photography is so inspiring and keeps me going. The most challenging thing by far is dealing with the day-to-day obstacles, like fixing bugs in the code, being creative and always being a strong and inspiring leader for my team.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would love to see exponential growth of the company and start new ventures along the way.
What does success look like to you?
Success to me will always be when I look forward to waking up in the morning because I love what I do. There is no better feeling than knowing you make people happy with the products you create.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
The app launch was by far the most memorable. Having worked on it for over a year, it is such a great feeling to see something you have worked so hard to build finally see the light of day. All those sleepless nights really paid off.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Other young professionals should not let any obstacles stand in the way of reaching their goals. Do what makes you happy, not what would make someone else happy. Don’t choose the quickest path or the easiest path, because there is nothing more rewarding than achieving something you’ve always dreamed of after working hard for it.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
I am a huge supporter of CIBC’s Run for the Cure, a run to help cure breast cancer. I lost my aunt to the horrible disease a few years ago and have been participating in the run ever since, raising money and awareness.
What to you is notable?
Notable to me is being able to make a difference. Not just creating something, but inspiring others to do the same.
BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
I am currently on iPhone, but having been a die-hard BlackBerry fan for years (I won CrackBerry.com’s BlackBerry Fanboy Contest) I can’t wait to get on BlackBerry10.