What is your role as CEO?
Setting a clear vision for the future and ensuring that all team members are aligned and working towards this is my priority. This includes making sure we have the best team in place to look after all aspects of the business.
What makes you good at your job?
Over the past 20 years I’ve been fortunate enough to work for numerous businesses across multiple industries and I’ve had the opportunity to work with some exceptional people. This experience, which has also included several failures, has enabled me to develop a formidable sense of business acumen, resourcefulness and tenacity. As a leader I feel strongly about empowering people and creating an environment where there is a high level of trust and people are able to use their initiative, which has helped me drive a high-performance culture and accountability.
What is the best career advice you have received?
It was less career advice per se and more about business development and sales skills. Early in my career I worked for someone who later became a mentor and friend. He often spoke about the importance of “belly to belly”, which highlighted the importance of meeting face to face with a person when trying to do a deal. Even if it is one company doing business with another business, it still comes down to one person buying from another person, and if the person in front of you doesn’t like you, they are not going to do business with you.
What do you look for when recruiting for adumo?
I look for someone is who hungry to succeed, is naturally curious and has a strong desire to learn and grow. While I look for talented people and want to build high-performing teams, I won’t recruit the smartest person if they won't be a cultural fit and align with our values.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
At one stage I wanted to be an accountant, then I wanted to be an industrial phycologist, then I wanted to be in marketing. After school I did not study and landed up doing the “university of life”. Finally, in my 40s, I completed an MBA. I guess the message is that it’s OK if you have no idea what you want to do and you have your whole life ahead of you. Just make sure that whatever you do, you put a 100% in and make the most of the experience.
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