Name: Troy Hector

Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Organisation: Trident Digital Enterprises (Pty) Ltd

As Founder and CEO of Trident Digital Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, I have more than twenty (20) years of corporate business, executive management and strategic leadership experience.

With the background of managing multi-billion Rand portfolios in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, current business ventures include driving transformation change in financial services and bringing about digital adoption in the education market.

Career highlights include stakeholder engagement during the 2010 FIFA World Cup (FWC), with extensive accomplishments in both private and public sectors.

I hold a BTech Elec Eng from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (Scotland) and completing the Master of Management in the Field of Digital Business (MMDB) at the Wits Business School (WBS).

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

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

Cheers,

Jonno White

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

In business, one of the most challenging encounters have been:

1. To execute on a board mandated retrenchment process whilst maintaining empathy to the future plight of the impacted employees,

2. To engage with authorities on unethical conduct that has taken place in the organisation and after a disciplinary / dismissal process has ensued, and

3. To motivate and encourage high performance from your employees during challenging economic times.

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

I would attest my appointment into leadership and management as a combination of a strong work ethic, a consummate professional demeanour and an acquired technical / business acumen.

I started as a technician in the field, specialising in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and went to earn a Bachelor in Technology (BTech: Electrical Engineering) and obtained a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

The practical experiences and formal qualifications elevated me to roles in Senior Management, Executive and Management Executive, in the corporate sector before venturing into entrepreneurship becoming a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

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

The day is structured around:

1. rising in the morning at about 05:00,

2. exercising and meditating for the first hour,

3. enjoying a healthy wholesome breakfast,

4. embarking on the tasks for the day i.e. meetings, reports, presentations etc, including travel, and

5. winding down quality time in the evening.

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

Leadership is being human in your approach to dealing with people, as apposed to being inanimate objects.

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?

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman has been a foundational and leadership framework that I have carried through my entire professional career, whether dealing with key stakeholders, business leaders or company employees.

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

Upon reflection, optimise the time afforded to the best of your ability.

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

It is imperative as a leader I demonstrate integrity / honesty, work ethic and strategic insight to ensure that the results are achieved through the team(s) assigned.