1. What have you found most challenging as a leader of a small or medium enterprise?

Following the good advice that I give to my clients in my own business . :-)

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

After 10 years’ owning and running several startups and another 20+ years’ in sales and marketing leadership roles in multinational technology corporations like Sony, 3M, Canon and CSC (now DXC), I was ready for a change.

I was frustrated seeing the same old mistakes being made when businesses try to accelerate their sales results.

So, I set myself the task to offer proven and scalable solutions that deliver real revenue results and give customers a better buying experience.

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

First thing I catch up on messages and emails.

I prioritise the urgent and the important ones.

I schedule time in my calendar to take care of my To Do List items.

Then do them one by one.

4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

Authenticity eats management theory for breakfast.

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?

It was a while ago, but Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico impressed me. The way he motivated his troupes and selected his strategies was brilliant.

6. How do you build leadership capacity in an SME?

You need to have the strength of conviction.

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

I had a call with someone I thought was a prospect for my services. It transpired they were looking for their next job. So I gave them some free advice and helped them gain clarity on 1. where they want to go next, and 2. on how to make themselves desirable as a candidate.

I did not win a new client but it felt good anyway.