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Robert Sandilands
Principal Software Engineer
Professional Background
Robert Sandilands is a highly skilled architect and software engineer with an impressive and diverse professional background that spans several years and multiple domains, particularly in the fields of computer security and software development. With a strong foundation in various programming languages such as C++, C#, SQL, Java, and Python, Robert has demonstrated his versatility and adaptability in both Windows and Linux environments. His expertise lies not only in software development but also in profiling and optimizing applications, enabling them to scale effectively for complex problems and manage large volumes of data efficiently.
Robert’s extensive experience with public cloud infrastructures, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, positions him as a thought leader in deploying secure, scalable solutions for modern software challenges. Throughout his career, he has held significant roles in various reputable organizations, where he has leveraged his technical knowledge to design and implement software solutions that meet high standards of performance and security.
As a Principal Software Engineer at Nuix, Robert has been at the forefront of developing advanced data analytics and digital investigations products. His innovative contributions have helped clients navigate the complexities of data security, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information.
Before his current role, Robert served as a Software Architect at Secureworks, where he was instrumental in defining technical strategies that bolster corporate security measures against evolving threats. His leadership and strategic insight have cultivated an environment of collaboration and innovation among interdisciplinary teams, effectively guiding projects from conception through to execution.
Robert’s impressive career also includes notable positions such as Director of Anti-Virus Products, Director of the Anti-Virus Lab, and Director of Anti-Virus at Commtouch. In these roles, he led diverse teams to research and develop state-of-the-art anti-virus solutions, contributing significantly to the field of cybersecurity. His tenure at Authentium as a Computer Virus Researcher further highlights his commitment to investigating and mitigating computer security threats, establishing him as a trusted expert in the industry.
Robert’s journey started as a Software Engineer at Secureworx Pty Ltd, where his passion for technology and security was kindled. His foundational role at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a Senior Virus Analyst equipped him with invaluable insights into the intricacies of computer viruses, shaping his future career path.
Education and Achievements
Robert Sandilands successfully completed his Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University of Pretoria/Universiteit Van Pretoria, acquiring a robust educational foundation that has supported his professional endeavors in engineering and technology. His academic excellence laid the groundwork for his subsequent career achievements and specialized knowledge in software engineering and computer security.
In addition to his formal education, Robert continually seeks to enhance his skill set through various professional development opportunities. His unwavering pursuit of knowledge ensures he remains updated with the latest advancements in technology, particularly in engineering, software development, and cybersecurity.
Through years of dedication and hard work, Robert has earned numerous accolades and recognition for his contributions to the field. His commitment to excellence is evident not only in the projects he has completed but also in the leadership roles he has embraced throughout his career, showcasing his ability to drive impactful results in any setting.
Achievements
- Principal Software Engineer at Nuix: Leading innovations in data analytics and security solutions.
- Former Software Architect at Secureworks: Enhanced organizational security strategies with cutting-edge software architectures.
- Director: Anti-Virus Products at Commtouch: Spearheaded product developments that set new industry standards in anti-virus solutions.
- Director: Anti-Virus Lab and Anti-Virus at Commtouch: Oversaw research and implementation of robust antivirus technologies.
- Former Computer Virus Researcher at Authentium: Conducted critical research to effectively combat malware threats.
- Senior Virus Analyst at CSIR: Played a crucial role in advancing methodologies for detecting and responding to computer viruses.
Robert's impressive array of skills, including software optimization, profiling, and cloud architecture, coupled with his robust leadership experience, define him as a leading figure in the realms of software engineering and cybersecurity. His passion for technology and unwavering commitment to securing data against potential threats make him a valuable asset to any organization in today's digital landscape.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
Unlike traditional CRMs that focus primarily on sales pipelines and business relationships, Clay is a "home for your people," attempting to carve out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. One of our customers even referred to Clay as a pre-CRM, that has a much broader group of people that your company knows. Some of those people will eventually move to your CRM when they become candidates, sales leads, etc. Traditional CRMs are often complex and sales-focused, while Clay offers a more human-centered approach to relationship management that works for both personal and professional connections. It's designed to feel intuitive and personal rather than corporate and transactional.
Clay takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Clay encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Clay work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Clay is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay makes it much easier to stay in touch with the people you care about. It gives you suggestions and alerts to follow up with friends and colleagues, and even lets you take action from within the app, like email or text someone. Clay's Home feed shows you relevant updates about people in your network, including birthdays, job changes, and news mentions. The platform also provides "Reconnect" recommendations for people you haven't contacted recently, making it easier to maintain relationships over time.
Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.