A day in the Life of a Software Entrepreneur

Richard Fifita

CEO and Founder - Veyor Digital

Where are you from and what does being a Pacific Islander mean to you?

I am of Tongan descent, my father is from Kolomotu'a and mother from Holonga. Pacific Island culture for me is about togetherness and family, looking out for the greater good rather than the individual self. This can at times be at conflict with western culture which was a challenge for me entering the corporate world.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Running a software business is all encompassing and requires someone to be a jack of all trades rather than being a specialist in a specific area. My job as the CEO of my company is to bring in the right specialist at the right time, and to be the northern star that keeps the team working cohesively and moving in the right direction.

A typical day for me could include;

• Reviewing product feature prioritisation or solutions

• Meeting prospective investors or venture capitalists to build up our network for when future capital raises are required

• Jumping into sales meetings with key clients

• Interviewing prospective recruits. I focus on “selling the dream” to new candidates to get them excited about our vision

• Reviewing customer implementation success and finding ways to improve the experience for customers

What excites you most about your work?

I love that we make a positive impact for our clients by making their jobs easier. Our clients consistently tell us that they love our products and this is extremely satisfying for me and the team.

What qualifications are required to get into your line of work?

Typically, a software entrepreneur would either come from a technical background such as Software Engineering or a business background. Ultimately, a software entrepreneur is someone who can solve problems and uses technology to scale this solution, and then turns this into a viable business. Real life experience, innovative thinking and a commercially orientated mind is far more important than a degree in the space of entrepreneurship.

What Pacific Island values and traits help most in your line of work?

Family and togetherness are values I hold highly and were ingrained in me from my experience of growing up as a pacific islander. I try to create the same vibes with my company as I want everyone to feel included and at home. I want my team to all love working together and be genuinely inspired to make our business as successful as possible.

What would you like someone who’s interested in your line of work to know?

That it’s not easy, with a high risk of failure, but if you are genuinely passionate about your business idea and can afford to take a risk, then it's better to jump ‘all in’ and have a go, rather than wondering what could have been.

How did you find your path? What advice would you give to a young person exploring career options?

I started my career path going down a medical route, before moving to civil engineering, then transitioning across to creating a software business that addresses issues in the construction industry. My advice for young people is that it's never too late to change career paths, and that this is actually quite normal. Deciding on your career path at the age of 18 is a huge decision, and finding the career that's right for you takes time.

Fun Fact

I didn’t speak English until I was 7 years old, when we moved to Australia for school. I was a little freshie running around yelling at everyone in Tongan. My dad then made us speak English at home to improve our English. Unfortunately my Tongan language is no longer fluent, but I hope to regain it one day when I have time to commit to it.