What do you currently do?
I am the General Manager of Shopper Marketing company Shopitize. I’ve just got back from a couple of months in NYC, working on our US launch to grow the business and lead our company into the future. I’m lucky to have such a great team behind me which makes my job a breeze.
What is your inspiration in the business?
Our customers. I feel very passionate about servicing them and finding more ways to deliver even better value to them. We help them to track shoppers at each stage of the path to purchase through mobile, which ultimately gives them a competitive advantage, and helps to drive repeat purchases. I also find it very inspiring when innovation and technology comes together with business smart.
Who do you admire?
I admire my wife who also happens to be one of Shopitize’s founders. She’s smart, fun and beautiful and very inspiring to work with. I also admire people who are brave and take risks no matter what they do. Nothing can substitute experience.
Looking back are there things you would have done differently?
Je ne regrette rien. Life can be tough and sometimes you make decisions that are ill informed or simply wrong. We’re only humans. The important thing is to deal with it and to not shy away from admitting it. Tennis players know that a missed ball is in the past and instead of dwelling on it you should focus on winning the next one.
What defines your way of doing business?
I like to think it’s the intensity I bring to the team. I am fair but have high standards about creativity, quality and work ethics. Above all I believe the consumer is king. If it works for the consumer, it works for everyone else.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Don’t be afraid to ask people for advice. Nobody knows it all and getting a team of good advisors and mentors is fundamental to success. Focus on making it a business from day one. At the end of the day it’s about making money so ask yourself some basic questions around who the customers are and how much they are prepared to pay for your product or service. Above all, be brave!