annoyed. This is how I feel when Dan Quach, Director of African Data Centers, puts his hands on the table. It’s not his hands that are the problem, it’s his nails. It’s long. Clean, yes, but long.
Why do men keep long nails? “I didn’t have nails in primary school. I would eat them. It became a habit, but when I enrolled in an IT course, I kept my long nails which had stuck over the years. No manicure though,” he says.
Even without his nails, Quach would have been noticeable. He’s a tall, typical CEO.
When you scratch the flammable rust of self-confidence, you see a boy who was bullied throughout elementary school. Now, despite his critics, he has risen to the top management position. When we meet at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club off Ngong Road in Nairobi, people line up to say hello. Are they bothered by his long nails? We will never know.
What does it look like to be you?
It’s exciting. As a family man with two girls and a son, I do everything I can to spend moments with them. I’m the eldest son and have an older sister (three girls and three boys) – I’d like to think I play the big brother role well, and sometimes I step into the parenting role.
I often share my life lessons with my siblings. I’m intentional about socializing. I think a person’s net worth is their network, so I always tell friends and family that in addition to what you’re doing for everyone else, make sure you’re socially connected.
You have five siblings. Didn’t this inspire you to start a bigger family?
Haha! It’s not too late. I’m at the 50 percent mark. But in hindsight, I appreciate how hard my parents worked to provide for us.
Did you grow up in lack?
Not real. I acquired different skills from my father. I spent some time with my mother selling winter (used clothes) in Kisumu where she is still a businesswoman. My father was in academia. They both did their best to take us to good schools and provide good clothes and housing. We were special. They also instilled in us values that I still adhere to today and pass on to my children. I make sure I take care of not only my nuclear family, but also my extended family.
Is this feeling of “black tax” rooted in responsibility, guilt, or expectation?
Blessed is the hand that gives, not the hand that takes. It is my responsibility to support others and walk with them. If I can do something, I will do it.
What childhood memory stands out?
I wasn’t physically strong (laughs). I have gotten into confrontations and been bullied by much stronger boys. I compensated for my physical weakness by improving my performance academically and behaviorally, which sparked even greater anger from my bullies. “They were threatening.”I will close the school with you“(I will close the school with you), which means that I will be severely beaten on the closing day. So, I used to come to school expecting to be beaten. I have made peace with most of them now.
Weren’t you inclined to avenge yourself?
No, of course, it was painful, but I thought that whatever oppression one had, I could compensate for it in different ways. When someone undermines me, it gives me the motivation to not only perform but to exceed expectations.
Dan Quach, Managing Director, African Data Centres.
Image credit: Swimming pool
Does this explain your MBA? Should a CEO have one?
It’s nice to have one but it’s not necessary to have one. The knowledge you gain from an MBA is important for your managerial career. Personal development should be the focus of what you want to do to advance professionally.
When you strip away the title of CEO, father, friend, what kind of man do you think you are?
Eddie, this is hard because I try to avoid judgment about my identity. I let others do it because I don’t want to fall into the trap of efficiency. I am a law abiding citizen and love to have fun. I like to spend time with my social connections, not necessarily to get something from them. Relationships are important to me because people relate to people they love. In my free time, I play golf…
Are you good at golf?
No, I’m a social golfer. I’m not as competitive as my friends who want to beat me. For me, the hours I spend with them are what I cherish most.
What is your insecurity as a man?
Right now, it’s a matter of whether my children will survive the current hostile environment. They have access to more information than we do. We grew up in a communal environment, and I had to accept that I didn’t have 100% certainty that my children would live the way I wanted them to live. I strive to be close to them, be their friend, and influence their behavior.
Are you a better husband or father?
Everyone calls me “daddy” including my wife; So I think I’m a better father. It’s time to be a better husband now (chuckles).
Do you remember the first time you saw your wife?
Eddie, I approached my wife in a very competitive environment, between the Hyenas and the Sharks. I had to bring my A game, haha! I got married when I was 25 years old, a year after I graduated. We moved in together and turned it into a marriage. We are peers and perhaps this is one of the reasons why we have achieved many successes and challenges. We got married when I didn’t have a job, I was doing menial jobs but she believed in me.
At the risk of prying, I got married very young. What kind of pillow talk do you have now?
Nothing has changed. We talk about daily assessments of our commitment to each other and catch up on each other’s day. When you get married, you want your home to become your favorite place, a place where you can vent.
Sometimes, when you’re in a relationship for a long time, you end up falling into the “roommate” cliche. How do you maintain a fire?
You can’t do it alone. You both have to pull your weight and commit to each other. What do you do so as not to run the risk of a boring relationship? Be friends.
What did your recent heartbreak teach you?
Haha! He taught me that I had to commit to making amends and making sure my relationship with my wife survived. Marriage counselors, friends, and others, regardless, if we don’t get along, we won’t make it work.
What does it do just for you?
I retreat to being alone, especially in the village, to think things through. I like driving because it’s one of the ways I create time to be alone.
What do you like to brag about?
Cologne. My son has followed me, and sometimes I find him in my bedroom trying to put it on. Sometimes I tell him, “This is only used once in a while.” Haha! He lives in the moment. Sometimes when we get together as a family, I don’t mind having the finest whisky, as a token of appreciation to those I respect and celebrate.
What music are you listening to now?
Rumba. I blame that on my father. My son also influenced me, and now I also listen to amapiano. I also love my reggae music. You have been a strong patron of Tribeca. I remember DJ Bash was my old friend and I could miss a flight because Radio Ghetto was playing.
Were you as close to your father as you are to your son?
I am closer to my son, perhaps because of the social situation we live in now. My father was hard on us, but with good reason.
What is one thing you wish people understood more about you?
I’m not very strict. Some people may feel that I’m nervous, maybe because I’m very stubborn.
There is a Spanish proverb that says God: “Take what you want and pay for it.” What did you take and how do you pay?
At my workplace, I had certain opportunities and I took advantage of them, from a tech guy or engineer to a salesperson. So I had a view from all angles. It was useful in the end.
Do you have advice that has guided you over the years?
Yes, character makes the man
Who do you know that I should know?
Our group leader, Strive Masiyiwa. He owns Cassava Technologies and ADC is just one of his business arms. I challenge myself to do half of what he did, which is to believe in a cause and go for it.