The People Behind Vincent: Dan Hobson

Welcome Dan. So, let’s start by discussing your early career - did you always see yourself working in tech?

As a teenager, I actually wanted to be a lawyer. I’ve always been fascinated by the law and obsessed with language and the written word. However, I didn’t want to pursue my education, so moved straight into work aged 17. It wasn’t long before I secured a role in legal tech in London, so I’ve spent my whole career working with lawyers, but never as one of them.

Can you talk us through the path that’s led to your current role?

It’s been a full-circle journey. At 18, I joined a legal publisher called Justis. There were around 40 people in the team, looking after clients across the globe from a small office in Camden. After four years, I chose to move into a larger corporate organisation, taking on a more strategic consultancy role, helping law firms to work remotely and stay secure.

When the pandemic hit, I left the UK and continued my role remotely from places like Dubai and even the Maldives. Eventually, I was called back to corporate life in London, however it no longer felt right. Around that time, Justis had been acquired by vLex and had plans to scale rapidly, so I was asked if I wanted to go back to help open the business in Asia.

That was four years ago, and we’ve since built a healthy business on this side of the world. I’m back at the same organisation, but we now employ 400, and I’ve gone from a junior salesman in London to head of a region for a global tech business. The contrast couldn’t be bigger.

What does your role look like now?

At first, my role was mainly market research to understand which countries would benefit from our product. I then worked on tailoring our offer, building networks, developing the messaging, and hiring commercial staff to support our growth in different countries.

Now, we have a strong brand across four regions, so my role has evolved to build on that success. I spend a lot of time speaking at events, running thought-leadership sessions, and sharing insights on how AI is being adopted across the legal industry. That visibility sparks conversations, often from people who haven’t even seen our tech yet, but want to engage as we’re honest, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking.

I imagine that involves a lot of traveling?

Yes, I’ve been on over 25 flights already this year! Every other week I’m somewhere different, including Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.

Travel has always been a passion of mine, and it’s part of what drew me to this role. I genuinely enjoy being in airports with my laptop. Sure, it can be tiring at times, but I learn a lot and it’s very fulfilling. It’s not every day you get the chance to sit down with governments in places like Fiji to discuss how tech can make a positive difference.

Beyond travel, what keeps you motivated?

For me, it’s twofold.

Firstly, I’m fascinated by the ripple effect of implementing modern technologies. For example, I’m currently working with a judiciary in the South Pacific to explore how AI can improve their legal system. Through the pandemic, courts suffered huge delays, creating a huge backlog of cases. Technology will help to speed up that process and strengthen their legal systems, creating a long-lasting impact. Having conversations that focus on the bigger picture rather than just features and functions is what I really love.

On a personal level, I live in Bali, which offers me an amazing lifestyle, but it’s also a place with stark poverty just steps away from luxury resorts. I do a lot of work with an organisation called Bali Street Mums, which supports kids who’ve been begging on the streets, providing them with shelter, food, and skills.

A few months ago, I invested my entire savings from the past four years into opening ‘together’, a community café in Bali. All the proceeds go directly to Bali Street Mums, and the older kids come and work in the café to learn hospitality skills and build a new life. So, the more successful I am at vLex, the more I can give back to the people of Bali.

That must be incredibly rewarding – what triggered the idea for a café?

It began with a fundraiser to give back to the island in December last year. Some friends and I ran 500km around Bali to raise money for a safe house run by Bali Street Mums. They were doing an amazing job for local kids, but running out of funds. We raised about $10,000, which kept them going for six months.

The more time I spent with the organisation, the more I wanted to help. We couldn’t do the same run every year, so I decided to use the power of business to build a sustainable revenue stream. Hospitality is one of the main industries in Bali, and cafés here can be very successful. It felt like an obvious solution, and I thought, if we can train the kids too, they’ll never end up back on the streets.

I also have personal reasons for wanting to give back in this way. When I was two, I was adopted by the best people in the world. They gave me every tool I needed to build a good life. The café is a way for me to help other kids who deserve the same chance.

What impact has the café had so far?

We opened in May this year and it’s been magical to see it come to life. On average, we’re providing around 2,000 meals a month and employ four young people.

Watching the transformation in these kids is amazing. One had been living on the street for six years, was painfully shy, and has two younger sisters to take care of. Now, she earns a monthly wage, and every morning bursts through the doors with a cheerful ‘good morning!’ In just a few months, she’s nearly at a level where she could be hired as a professional waitress. It’s incredible to see the difference.

Looking ahead, what’s your goal for the café?

Professionally and personally, my mindset has always been about growth. With the café, I’ve had to switch that off. There are 30 kids at the safe house and if we can generate $2,000 a month, it will change their lives, and we can do even more to prepare them for the future.

Right now, stability is the most important thing. If the café can provide steady support for these kids for the next 10 years, that alone will be enough.

You mentioned you didn’t take a formal education route after leaving school. What advice would you give to other young people considering their path?

There’s nothing wrong with learning by doing. I’ve always preferred to dive straight into things to understand them rather than rely on theory. So, my advice would be to find something you’re passionate about, ride the wave until you succeed, and don’t let a certificate define your potential.

And finally, what’s next for you professionally?

Our industry is very fast-moving, so any plans can quickly become outdated. Even in just a year’s time, my role and the wider world could look very different. But that’s part of the excitement. As long as my work keeps evolving and I’m surrounded by good people, I’m happy.

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