Candid conversations with directors on the interests and insights that have shaped their careers.
Most-valued early career lesson?
I’ve been in leadership roles from very early in my career, as a co-founder and then CEO of IPAC Securities. One of my biggest lessons would be that leaders need to appreciate the very big impact they have on people around them. The exercise of that influence is important and requires a mindset that leadership is about superior responsibility, not superior authority or power.
Early career risk that paid off?
Co-founding a firm was a big risk. I had done an MBA and was a good student, so I had a range of corporate roles I could’ve gone for. But for some reason, I persuaded myself no-one would ever offer me a job. I thought, ‘I’ll need to make my own job.’ I co-founded the firm with what little savings I had and there was no salary to speak of when we started. But, 23 years later, we sold the firm, which paid off in monetary terms in a life-changing way.
Top-of-mind governance issue?
The ever-increasing burden of regulations and the effort and resources it takes to comply with them. I’m a fan of good regulation, but in recent years, regulators and legislators haven’t necessarily turned their minds to the cost benefit of complying with new regulations or legislation, even where their underlying intent is good.
Prediction on the future of leadership?
The pace and sophistication of technology is increasing. So leadership in the future will require a greater degree of vision and innovation to harness it to fundamentally change business models and give them a strategic advantage. That requires a huge willingness to engage with new technologies.
Tactic for managing a challenging diary?
I’ve learned the art of saying “no” nicely and gently. Video-conferencing, particularly for smaller meetings, is also a great time-saver. It’s just more efficient, particularly when you know the people on the other side. If it’s a new relationship, you do need face-to-face time.
Favourite movie or TV show?
I like punchy storylines where the delivery is thoughtful and fast, with character development. A favourite TV show is The West Wing, and any movie by the Coen brothers that’s idiosyncratic, like Fargo or The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
Favourite book?
I’ve been troubled by the increasing polarisation in societies and recently read The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt. His insight is that the reason people hold different views about issues is because they put a different emphasis on values. He has a framework of six values, which he says are pretty much universal. It’s been helpful for me when engaging with people who hold different views to mine — to understand and unpick where they’re coming from in terms of their value set and to see where we may have commonality, as opposed to difference.
Favourite travel spot?
My family and I regularly go skiing in Colorado. It’s a change of scenery, a change of culture, and skiing is something we can do together. I also like to visit new places, because it changes your perspective. The world is a very big place with many facets to it. That’s what makes life so wondrous, complex and eternally fascinating.
This article first appeared under the headline ‘Favourites’ in the April 2025 issue of Company Director magazine.
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