5 Questions with... Mark Wadden

Your Wednesday morning fix is here! Please consume responsibly as too much Techvibes can be good for you. Live from Tanzania here is your weekly 5 Questions...

Mark Wadden is a co-founder and V.P. Technology of M79 Studios, a full-service Interactive agency created more than a decade ago to serve companies in Toronto and around the globe. Mark has spent the past 14 years architecting and developing web-based solutions for nearly every major industry. These days, he spends most of his time consulting and providing strategy for executive teams in technology trends and social media. Clients such as NATO (NAMSA), the Canadian Department of National Defence, Proctor & Gamble, Bell Canada, Alliance Atlantis, Rogers, Petro-Canada and Maple Leaf Foods have all relied on Mark’s technical expertise to ensure the success of their projects.

Mark is currently co-developing an upcoming workshop series called “Start It Up”, which focuses on providing new entrepreneurs and start-up companies with some practical advice on navigating the digital industry and the social media landscape.

You can follow Mark on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mwadden

What motivates you to do what you do on a daily basis?

I absolutely LOVE the Internet. Honestly. And I love the freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur. I’m also addicted to learning, and having a diverse client base allows me to continually expand my knowledge and provides countless opportunities to try new things.

Do you have any success start-up tips for people wanting to create a name for themselves in your industry?

A few things:

• First and foremost, just get started. People often over-think themselves into mental paralysis. Not that thinking and planning is bad; quite the opposite. But you have to distinguish between solid logical planning and nervous thrashing.
• Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. Your education (or lack thereof) and your experience (or lack thereof) are not going to hold you back as much as you think unless you let them. You can always learn what you need to know as you go.
• Don’t be fooled by what a technology is “supposed” to do. Think “outside the docs” and beat the technology into submission. It works for you, not the other way around.
• Learn to “stand on the shoulders of giants”. There’s amazing work being done all over the planet. Find good examples of what you like and study them. Copy them. Improve them.
• Never stop learning. Trying to be an expert at something is often a moving target; there’s always more to learn and you usually don’t know what you don’t know. Make learning part of your routine. Read, read, read.

I can talk about this for hours, so for those that are interested, keep an eye on www.startitup.ca (or msg me on Twitter) for more info on my upcoming workshops.

In your opinion why is Toronto a great place for cool tech start-ups?

Toronto is such a great city, full of amazing talent. Aside from that, I think we sometimes have a little envy for the silicone-valley start-ups we all love, and that can be a great motivator for us less-funded northerners.

What's your favourite tech toy and social media site and why?

I’d love to say something mind-blowingly insightful here, but I’ve got to go with my iPhone and Twitter. Put them together and you have a sweet, sweet harmony rivalled only by the legendary synergies of peanut butter and jam. Mmmm.

Who would you say is one of Toronto's up and coming stars in your space and why?

That’s a tough one. Every day I meet great people that are making amazing things happen around the city.

It may sound cheesy but, having known him for over 12 years, I can say that my business partner Tom Tentoglou is definitely someone worth knowing.

I also have to mention Scott Stratten. For those that don’t already know him, he’s a fantastic speaker and a passionate and engaging person.