This is the first in a series we’ll be doing as we take a closer look at some of the thought leaders and influencers that affect our space.  These snapshot profiles uncover some of the personal traits that drive our favorite people in the tech industry, giving you a pleasantly surprising look at the human nature behind even the most stoic of executives.

Today we’re featuring Jeff Janer, co-founder and CEO of Springpad.  He’s persevered in the face of tough competition, launching a productivity tool at the height of Evernote’s popularity and dealing with constant comparison between the two products.  With an array of experience in executive positions, most recently the role of CMO at Third Screen Media (acquired by AOL), Janer takes on his biggest challenge yet, in leading Springpad through the startup journey.  Here he tells us of his experiences rising in the wake of Evernote, what keeps him up at night, and even some unexpected things you might find clipped in his Springpad notebooks!

What’s the most surprising thing we’d find clipped in your Springpad notebooks?

Probably some of the products I’m watching that I’d like to buy someday as gifts and undoubtedly some of the milestones I want to be reminded of…including everything from first date with my wife to John Hughes’ passing (love Ferris Bueller) to the first moon landing (see here).

Tell me 3 things everyone should bookmark.

Your articles about Springpad, of course! Bookmark your wants – whether it’s the movies you want to see, musical artists you want to catch live, restaurants you’ve heard about and want to get to someday, cool products that you really want though you can’t afford them…and we’ll keep you posted about availability, price drops and other special offers and deals to help you out when you’re ready to take action.

What keeps you up at night?  

What keeps me up at night is that I don’t want to die with our secret! I’m passionate about making sure that Springpad has value and is useful for our users, and often wake up at night thinking about ideas to improve the product and to let everyone know about it.

You’re one of the few company leaders to rise in the wake of Evernote.  How did you gear up to embark on your vision?

Though we’re often compared to Evernote, we really don’t see ourselves as competing head to head with them. While we clearly overlap in the general category of note-taking, bookmarking and notebooks – we see ourselves not only as a digital filing cabinet, but also more of an assistant that actively helps our users by enhancing the information they save, share and discover from the sources they trust.