Welcome to the Leader’s Insights, a place where The Future asks the simplest, yet, the most interesting questions to the executives of well-known companies, startups and innovators.
Today we talk with Tom Britton, the founder of Cyprus Business Group, a trusted community/platform of authenticated professionals and businesses, dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and empowering leaders. With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and business development, Tom is a self-proclaimed “business nerd”. He has successfully led Cyprus Business Group (CBG) to accrue nearly five thousand members, focusing on authenticating new members and banning non-value-adding entities.
Let’s see what Wilkens has to say…
1. Do you remember your first day on the job at CBG?
Yes – but there are really 2 first days for CBG, in my mind. The first ever day was about 6 years ago when I first created the group. The second first day was last year when we organised our first-ever in-person networking event. Only then did it really dawn on me what we were building.
2. What is more difficult: being interviewed to join a team or doing the interviews yourself?
100% “doing interviews yourself”. One thing I’ve realised is that my questions are super weird and rarely have anything to do with skills or experience; it’s easier to teach someone new skills than to change who they are, so I try to get a good sense of personality.
3. What do you most value in your employees?
3 things: trust, motivation, and loyalty.
4. If you were back to the start, what would you advise yourself for a great career?
Anything in A.I. right now sounds epic. Not only because of its potential impact but also because of the inherent challenges; technology, philosophy, ethics, etc.
5. How do you pump up your creativity?
Walking around. It’s a great way to figure out what you’re doing and why. Having a dog helps!
6. What is a talent you would like to have?
Painting. I’d love to have the patience of passion for that, but I need the type of control you get with digital tools, that you just can’t get with a brush.
7. How do you balance work and personal life?
There’s no balance right now. It’s all work.
8. What are the top five foods you like in Cyprus?
I love a good kebab. Also, anari, loukoumades, lamb chops (if they count), and soutzoukos!
9. Can you name your top five favourite places in Cyprus?
- Finikaria picnic site (Limassol),
- Paphos forest,
- Omothos village,
- Courion area (Limassol),
- Anexartisias area (Limassol).
10. Which personality, throughout history, do you admire most?
My grandfather. He was always very entrepreneurial – he loved business and was great at it. He had a great work/life balance, and, no matter what, he was never phased by anything, he was always so positive and calm.
11. Who is your favourite author/book that helped your career?
One recent book that I read and really enjoyed was “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries. I tend to follow genres more than authors. I love books on philosophy and business mostly. Scott Galloway’s “The Four – The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google” was a good read, too.
12. Where would you advise our readers to go this winter?
Not sure, really. Anexartisias always feels very festive that time of the year; I might recommend walking around there.
