Name: Jack Fridman

Title: Senior Business Advisor

Organisation: Tap and Share

Throughout my extensive experience as a C-Suite executive, I've excelled in diverse industries, forging key partnerships with influential organisations. My goals as a leader are to empower individuals, foster an innovative environment, and to achieve exceptional results.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Jack's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

As a leader, my biggest challenge has always been finding a balance between being an authority figure and being a mentor. I’ve found that the best way to come off as a compassionate yet strong leader is by adapting myself to the situation. This has allowed me to foster a positive environment while making it clear that delivering results is necessary.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

My path to leadership began early in life. Growing up around individuals in leadership roles, I naturally gravitated towards becoming a leader. It was around the age of 9 when I took my first significant step. During weekends, I co-ran market stalls and had the idea to hire my first 'sales team' – a group of kids my age. This experience ignited my passion for leadership and taught me valuable lessons in delegating, responsibility, and decision-making. It was the starting point of my lifelong journey as a leader and taught me lessons that have been valuable for me throughout my career.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

My daily schedule varies to adapt to the demands of my role as a senior business advisor, which allows for flexibility. On busier days, I typically wake up at 7:00 AM, arrive at the office by 8:00 AM, and allocate the morning to collaborative work with my colleagues. As the day progresses, I focus on 'big-picture' tasks. On these busy days, I often find myself in the office until late, departing between 8:00 PM and 12:00 AM. On my free days, I prioritize personal well-being and family time. I dedicate time to reading, engaging in physical exercise, and cherishing moments with my family. This mix of structured workdays and relaxation on my off-days allows me to strike the perfect balance between my professional and personal life.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

A leadership lesson I was recently reminded of is teaching the lasting impact of excellent customer service. Recently, I signed a large client who approached me to enquire about my services. Later, they told me that they were recommended to me by a former client who I provided special services for. Although this former client required different solutions to what I was able to offer and we eventually dissolved our relationship, they still remembered the excellent experience I provided them with.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

The book that profoundly impacted my leadership is 'Leaders Eat Last' by Simon Sinek. This book reshaped my perspective on leadership by emphasising the importance of a strong leader. Sinek's insights on prioritising the well-being of the team and fostering a sense of trust and safety within the organisation have had a lasting influence on my leadership style and has inspired me to create a supportive and collaborative work environment.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

If I could offer one piece of advice to a young leader, it would be to never stop learning and growing. Embrace continuous growth and self-improvement. Leadership is an ongoing journey and staying open to new knowledge, experiences, and feedback is the key to becoming an effective leader.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

One meaningful story from my time as a leader was when I faced a critical decision that tested my values. My team were aware that we had the opportunity to secure an extremely large deal but it involved compromising our core principles. I chose to walk away from the deal because it went against our integrity. This decision helped reinforce our company's commitment to ethics and has made sure that everyone in my team knows where I stand on morales.