My Ikigai
My ‘Ikigai’ is to ‘help people sell’. I have done it all my career with great people at Accenture, JDA, Interwoven, Autonomy, Splunk, Kainos, MyPlanet, Acquia, Workfront, Kooth and Limbic.
Ikigai translates as 'sense of purpose'. Removing the obstacles to performance is my focus and there's no greater sense of purpose than seeing colleagues flourish and achieve their full potential.
My Story
We spend 1/3 of our lives at work so in my opinion it should provide a sense of purpose if not happiness. 'Self-actualisation' was covered in my Management Science degree at Aston University but on graduation the focus was on paying-off debt so I took a job as an IT consultant in Accenture's Financial Services Division. For 5 years I worked with great people, constantly under pressure to deliver. In hindsight I had imposter syndrome...up until the day I joined a team on a bid to JP Morgan. I was hooked on sales.
From Singapore to London, I ran the operations of software firms including Interwoven, Autonomy and Splunk. We grew Splunk EMEA from 25 to 160 people with a fun culture and the 'coolest' office in the UK. I then completed the 'Executive Program in Growing Companies' at Stanford Univerity. I was 'in flow'.
In 2018 our world collapsed with the suicide of our 19 year old son Ben at Bristol University. In shock, my inner consultant took over and presented the Vice Chancellor with the changes needed to create a safer, more compassionate university. This work led to published guidance to the whole sector and Brunel University awarded me an Honorary Fellowship in Mental Health Strategy.
In 2023 I completed a major feat of project management, sailing in a race to the Azores and back. Time to reflect that my ‘Ikigai’ is releasing potential by ‘helping people to sell’. Those who succeed in sales are the next generation of leaders. Giving them the skills to win and to lead with compassion, this is my purpose.
