Matthew J. Schiltz is the CEO and president of DocuSign Inc., which allows customers to get legally binding electronic signatures on any type of contract or document. A Seattle native, Schiltz has a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Washington and an M.B.A. from Seattle University. Before joining DocuSign in January, he was CEO of General Software.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

My first job involved unloading 75-pound boxes of steel siding all day long.  I negotiated with the company to stop paying me by the hour but instead by the truckload. By working really hard I could unload the trucks in less than half the time of everyone else. I learned that working hard AND smart really pays off.

What is your idea of happiness?

Personally, it is quality time with my family. Professionally it is being the catalyst in building a successful company from a modest start.

What is your most significant achievement?

I am really proud of my family, especially given the demanding CEO roles I have taken on over the past few years. I think success in both is rare today.

What business decision do you most regret?

The one that stands out is that I turned down a high-level exec position in a start-up company that is now a household name.

What talent would you most like to possess?

These days I think it might be between Tiger's swing and Tiger's short game.

What personal trait would you rather not have?

At times I tend to put too much pressure on myself to be too perfect.

What trait bothers you most in others?

I would say it is people with poor attitudes.

What is the most overrated virtue in an executive?

The ability to run a large existing organization is overrated. I think the exec that builds a company is much more talented.

What do you most fear?

That's easy; something negative happening to my family.

Who in history do you most admire?

Strong leaders who had the right idea and did not back down against long odds. Leaders like Churchill, Reagan and Martin Luther King Jr. come to mind.

What attributes do you like most in a person?

A positive attitude, strong work ethic, talent and the ability to connect with people.

What turns you off in a person?

It is people who do not have their own act together and then tend to blame others for their problems.

If after death you could come back as another person who would it be?

Michael Jordan. It would be fun to try his shoes for one game.

What Washington CEO do you most admire?

There are so many good ones; I could not pick just one. In my mind the top CEOs built companies in a brand-new market space from start-up stage to a dominating position.  A lot of them are not well known; they are super talented but not in the limelight much.

What is your favorite place in Washington?

My favorite place is my home.

When are you most happy?

Being on a sunny vacation with my family.

Who is your favorite author and why?

That's an easy one; my two kids are my favorite. I really love reading what they write in school.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction and why?

Superman. Doesn't every guy want to be Superman?

What is your most valued possession?

My family's health and happiness.

What one thing in Washington would you change?

Professionally, I would really love to see more focus into making Washington a better place to build a business. Personally, I love Washington, but I would increase the number of days of sunshine.