Meet the Chiefs: Larry Kraft, SecureAuth
This week we chatted with Larry Kraft, vice president of Worldwide Channels at SecureAuth, a company specializing in two-factor authentication and single sign-on solutions for mobile devices and apps.
This week we chatted with Larry Kraft, vice president of Worldwide Channels at SecureAuth, a company specializing in two-factor authentication and single sign-on solutions for mobile devices and apps.
Kraft joined SecureAuth in April 2015 as channel chief, and has previously served in a number of different channel leadership roles throughout his nearly 20-year long career in IT. He most recently served as Director of Alliances and Channel Development at Exact before joining SecureAuth.
Kraft: My first job was at a grocery store, where I worked as a bagger. Coming from a big family, my parents were keen on teaching us work ethic, so I began working a formal job at age 15. It taught me a lot about customer care. Many young / first time employees in customer-service oriented industries don't understand it's not about them… it's always about the customer!
The VAR Guy says: Did you prefer paper or plastic? In all seriousness though, this is a great way to learn proper customer service etiquette – plus you get to read all the tabloids on your break!
Kraft: I don't have a dream car; in fact, I've never even owned a new car. Someday, maybe…and even then it'll likely be like a v8 Toyota Tundra iForce or something with some pulling power. I'd rather invest in trips with my family, as my two daughters (15 and 11) will be gone off to college and life far too quickly. Cars just aren't something I'm passionate about…though I like a lot about what Tesla is doing.
The VAR Guy says: Who doesn't like a car that cleans the outside air as it drives and asks "can we go for a ride?" like an excited puppy? Good call.
Kraft: We took our girls to Santa Monica and LA for their Spring Break…great trip. Then my wife and I went to Maui for my company's President's Club trip – that was an amazing time!
The VAR Guy says: What, no kids in Maui? (We totally can't blame you.)
Kraft: Even though it was published a few years ago, [it would have to be] "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson. The book is a riveting tale of the brilliance and madness that was Steve Jobs. I'm completely captivated by entrepreneurs like Jobs who had the mental makeup, passion, and drive (beyond pure intellectual horsepower) to stay their course while never losing the sense of urgency that serves as their propulsion mechanism.
The VAR Guy says: Steve Jobs was certainly a fascinating guy, and Walter Isaacson was able to capture all of the elements of his personality – creative, innovative, and demanding – in a really fantastic biography.
Kraft: Our third Disney cruise with our girls (all three probably fall into this category, but simply doing three is an expensive endeavor). My philosophy simply is do it before they begin to get older and realize the world isn't always as magical as it can be through their naive lenses.
The VAR Guy says: The beautiful thing about Disney is that it lets us all be kids again!
Kraft: There are so many great series that friends encourage us to watch, but with not much time for TV, my family still takes time to watch "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race" together. There is something completely captivating just in their theme. With "Survivor," I continue to place myself in the show to think of how I'd handle the interpersonal struggles in such adverse conditions…simply brilliant in concept for anyone with a competitive spirit rooted in pure human relations.
The VAR Guy says: We keep lobbying for a staff-wide game of Survivor, but Human Resources always has some excuse. "We can't afford to send you all to the Bora-Bora…it's against policy to throw interns to the sharks…we strive for a policy of inclusion at The VAR Guy." Lame.
Kraft: I wanted to be a broadcaster on Monday Night Football. So many legendary commentators that delivered so many of my fondest sports fan moments!
The VAR Guy says: That does sound like a pretty cool gig, but we think you're perfectly suited for commentating on the exciting world of IT channel technology as well.
"Tombstone!" Val Kilmer's performance in Tombstone was not only incredibly awesome, but I still find myself quoting his character frequently – who can forget, "I'm your Huckleberry."
The VAR Guy says: Not us! This is a great choice, and we're totally going to watch it right now.
"Tombstone!" Val Kilmer's performance in Tombstone was not only incredibly awesome, but I still find myself quoting his character frequently – who can forget, "I'm your Huckleberry."
The VAR Guy says: Not us! This is a great choice, and we're totally going to watch it right now.
What is Meet the Chiefs?
Meet the Chiefs shines the spotlight on the channel’s head honchos and offers an opportunity to learn a little bit about the person beyond his or her company profile. Click on each photo to learn more about the channel chief you’re viewing.
Want to be included in an upcoming Meet the Chiefs? Send an email to The VAR Guy Associate Editor Michael Cusanelli at [email protected] for more information. He’s really good at answering emails on time, we promise.
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