Founder Origins: Paul Zonfrillo
Thanks again for subscribing to Cloud Musings! Last I checked, it was 41 subscribers strong on LinkedIn. If you haven't subscribed, subscribe to get automatic updates when I publish new editions here on Substack and LinkedIn!
As promised, I would take a couple editions to talk about founder origins. Last week, I gave a brief overview of my background. In this edition, I'll talk about Paul, my co-founder.
I've known Paul for almost 3 years. Back in 2020, after I built the first prototype for Oatfin, I was looking to apply to accelerator programs. I went looking for a co-founder and posted a role on AngelList. I remember Paul was one of the strongest candidate and thought he would be perfect for the role.
We met at a conference in Cambridge called Flip The Script. This was still at the height of the pandemic and we had to wear masks for indoor events. Since then, Paul has been helping me with the sales aspect and go to market motion. He has also been helping me as a strategic advisor and mentor.
Paul has over 20 years experience working as a sales person and enablement manager at Dell Technologies, EMC, Adobe, and FilesX, a startup that was acquired by IBM.
Here are some things that drive him:
Closing
In college, Paul sold computers for Radio Shack at the local mall. To him, there was nothing quite like the victory lap through the food court as he took the customers' new PC to the car. That feeling of pride, helping somebody and enriching himself at the same time never left him.
Coaching
As a sales manager and a sales enablement professional, he loves helping salespeople succeed. Part of his professional legacy is helping the next generation grow and prosper.
Simplification
After majoring in Computer Science at the University of Rhode Island, he quickly discovered that he was the world's worst programmer. However, that education gave him a deep understanding of how technology works and allowed him to explain complex concepts simply, as well as relaying their business value. He also holds a master's degree in Innovation from Northeastern University.
Paul lives in beautiful Narragansett Pier in Rhode Island with his wife, son and daughter.
Thanks for reading!
Jay