Tell us a little more about yourself and your career to date.
My early career years had a focus on Data Storage & Cyber Security including general IT technology sales. I feel very fortunate to have been involved in these sectors early on as it shaped my thinking in career terms and gave me the opportunity to meet great individuals and leaders who I am still in touch with today.
Impactful leaders make a huge difference to your career trajectory, and this was the case for me, working in parallel with industry greats. The last decade has seen a shift in focus towards hospitality technology, driving network, wi-fi & IPTV sales with a switch to the payments industry with DNA Payments Group this year to focus on Hospitality Partner Management.
Having joined the payments industry via employer acquisition, I quickly realised this was a new focus and opportunity for me, one I embraced immediately and threw myself at. Having the opportunity to join DNA Payments Group as Senior Hospitality Partner Manager is a huge career highlight for me and when there’s change to be embraced, just take it
Why did you say #imin to the IoH?
Joining the IoH was a simple thought process. It was a no brainer. What better way to support your career aspirations and grow your network at the same time via sales, marketing and event opportunities. Commercial sponsorships help elevate your profile and build your personal brand at the same time. The IoH offers me all of this, career growth, mentoring, professional development and industry leading qualifications and recognition. The IoH has fast become not just the UK standard, but the global one in the making.
What are you doing to support our industry at this challenging time?
It’s important that DNA Payments Group and I support the industry via organisations like the IoH which in turn has a direct impact on the UK&I hospitality industry. Through commercial sponsorships whether sales, events and marketing operations, we’re able to contribute to the financial growth of the industry, indirectly. Through various funding methods, we’re happy to work in parallel with the IoH to grow the future of the hospitality industry.
Why is it so important to support future talent?
Supporting future talent is critical in any industry. Nurturing, mentoring, Learning & Development are crucial from any early age. Creating the future level of leaders in any industry is of huge importance. Professional Development opportunities from within the IoH can help with this. Bringing on board the right talent at the right time, to then guide and impact their career shape will keep the Hospitality industry where it is today.
Who has been a role model to you during your career?
I’ve been fortunate to have had many role models across my career. My earliest memory of impactful leadership was selling cars as a teenager, the GM of the dealership would always coach me at every opportunity that presented itself whether he saw it, or I asked for it, I’ve never forgotten him and still consider how he operated to this day. My latest role model was my former Senior Vice President in the hospitality payments industry. Having spotted the opportunity to apply for, and be successful at a Future Leaders Programme, he gave me the springboard to become a director, leader of a team, and ultimately fulfil my current position of being in the hospitality payments industry at DNA Payments Group as Senior Hospitality Partner Manager.
What is the most weird, wonderful and downright worst thing to happen in your career?
Weirdest: Too many to mention… Visiting Russia, specifically Moscow, twice, falls into this category for me. Both at the height of their summer then winter, gave me a long cold hard look at life out there and how our partners operated in the hospitality industry. The ‘weird’ element is the sheer size of the place, the buildings and infrastructure. Quite intimidating at some points but glad I had the opportunity to represent my employer over there.
Wonderful: Joining DNA Payments Group, of course…
And the worst: Being in Tel-Aviv when the US President, Donald Trump, announced he was moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, where I was meant to be the very next day… An eerie few days to remember…
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