The transition from IT specialist to business leader has never been straightforward or comfortable for Andrew Bycroft, and is even more remarkable given his childhood of severe poverty. He embraced the personal challenge and set himself on a course for success, by creating a cutting-edge business at the forefront of online protection.
Beauty and the Geek is a television series which has been shown around the world. According to Wikipedia, “the premise of the show consists of a group of ‘Beauties’ (young women who have relied primarily on their looks) and a group of ‘Geeks’ (young men who have relied primarily on intellect rather than social aptitude or looks) who are paired up to compete as couples for a shared $250,000 and other prizes.”
While Andrew Bycroft, the founder and chief executive officer of International Cyber Resilience Institute, has never been on the show, and probably never will be, in an odd way he can relate to the experience.
As Andrew frankly comments looking back, “I think it’s fair to say I was a computer nerd. Today, I think it’s a compliment, but maybe not back then.”
Andrew wasn’t paired with a young female ‘Beauty’ but a young advertising agency called Mojo – the agency that brought us You Oughta Be Congratulated, How Do Ya Feel?, C’mon Aussie C’mon and Up There Cazaly.
Yes, Andrew stood out there, but, “because I was quite unique, I was very well respected.”
The biggest adjustment then for Andrew was having to dress down. “Until then I’d always taken great pride in presenting the right image. I wanted to look very corporate and professional. So to go into an industry where jeans and a t-shirt were the norm, was a challenge.”