Meet Kam Bansal, CEO of Dyrand Systems

A few weeks back when I was in Vancouver visiting some Lyra Technology Group MSPs and I had the chance to sit down with Kam Bansal from Dyrand Systems for lunch at Cactus Club Coal Harbour.

Who are you and tell us about your role and company

My name is Kam Bansal, and I'm the Chief Executive?Officer at Dyrand Systems, a seasoned but fresh Managed IT Services Provider (MSP) based in beautiful Vancouver, BC

What’s your backstory that got you to where you are today

There was a lot of uncertainty in my youth about what I wanted to be doing with my life. For a moment, I seriously considered pursuing acting for TV/Film. I had a growing interest in business and tech. I've always been drawn to technology, but it was the launch of the first iPhone that inspired me. I made a list of places I wanted to work, eventually crossing off my second and third choices, leaving Apple as my first and only choice. I ended up working at Apple for nearly 5 years, and it was a fantastic?experience. Soon after, I found myself in the start-up space, taking on sales leadership roles. That lead me to the opportunity here at Dyrand, through the team at Evergreen .?

What does your morning routine look like

Before I get settled to start the day, my morning routine involves a delicious cup of coffee and some tunes to get me going. With coffee, I'm currently into anything by Manhattan Coffee Roasters or Sebastian and Phil. When it comes to music, I listen to playlists I curate. Disco-funk, Soul, or Hip-Hop Jazz do the trick.

If you could give your teenage self some advice, what would it be

Learn how to set boundaries with those closest to you.

What’s the toughest business decision you’ve had to make

The first time I had to let someone go. No one likes to be in these situations, from either side. I had some good advice given to me then. Keep it short, it's not personal, it's what's best for the business. If they're not meeting expectations, maybe this isn’t the right environment for them to truly thrive in.?

What’s your biggest failure and what did you learn from that situation

Many years ago I tried to get my fitness and health on track. My approach wasn’t sustainable and I set unrealistic expectations for myself. Add to that, following a challenging process that essentially felt like “cold turkey”, pun not intended. A 1% change every day has yielded better results than strict, harsh, invasive, reactionary changes that weren’t sustainable. I’m trying to use the learnings from my personal experience to inform decisions in a professional setting.

Favourite quote that’s most often used

There’s nothing you can’t do, it starts with belief.

If you could gift someone one book to read, what would it be and why

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers. Besides that, I like to re-read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes collection. To comment on why, ask yourself how many things you missed out on because of fear. It’s empowering to unlock this part of the brain. It’s still work, and it’s not an overnight shift, but it’s a shift.

What do you do outside of work, where can we find you on the weekend

You can find me in the gym, on the seawall going for walks, connecting with family and friends, going to concerts, and lately, powering through season 2 of The Rings of Power.?

When you look into your crystal ball, what are some predictions for the future of the MSP industry

For anyone who grew up in the 80’s/90’s, this made me think of the Magic 8 Ball toy, there’s your daily dose of nostalgia. As far as predictions go, most would probably agree that cybersecurity is a hot topic. I believe the definition and meaning behind "we're secure" is going to continue shifting. I think we may see more stricter regulatory and compliance requirements mandating certain things. And then there’s AI and its continued integration into home and business. Like any era before us, there will be challenges and exciting opportunities ahead. Dyrand 2.0 will be ready.?

Thank you Kam Bansal for taking the time to Meet & Eat with me, I like to end these posts with what was ordered, the Dijon Salmon with mashed potatoes from Cactus never disappoints.