Q: In your role, what’s been the most rewarding challenge you’ve tackled this year?
Turning Sentinel into a real tangible business with my daughter. We opened in March so over the last few months we’ve gone from no business to a great business, back into a lock down business. Pressure is a privilege, so this year is packed with rewards, it’s my role to overcome the obstacles that present themselves and I love doing it alongside my daughter and some great people.
Q: Has your business been impacted by covid over the past 18 months? If so, how?
Absolutely. We were just coming into our stride when lock downs came into effect. We’re in the process of regathering, implementing creative ways to juggle the challenge of restrictions and government decisions alongside the opportunities that present themselves when things get shaken up. We had already planned for the first 12 months to be a learning curve, so we were prepared for a tough year and not being able to trade, or trade with limitations has forced us to take initiative, be intuitive and go to plan B,C and D. It’s probably made us sharper operators.
Q: How are your staff coping during the pandemic? What emphasis have you placed on staff wellbeing, and is this any more or less than ‘normal ?’
Our staff are legends. They are coping just fine but with little kids for some of them it’s a balance of home and work adjustments to the routine. We spend time each day checking in with each other. We’re in the people business and keen to make sure it’s a win win for everyone involved in the challenging and rewarding times. Without staff you don’t have a business so they’ve always been the most important part
of this business.
Q: What’s been your biggest learning this year on the leadership front?
It’s been a privilege to learn that there are so many great operators and generous people in the Waikato hospitality scene. There really is a lot of support and encouragement from inside the sector and in the general public. There’s a lot to be thankful for and plenty more to learn and contribute to.
Personally, watching my daughter Micah build this business with me has been a dream come true, it could make a grown man get a bit of onion in the eye… there’s nothing like seeing people succeed right in front of you to put things in perspective. Leadership should make room for people to flourish.
Q: Within your role, what are you most excited about achieving in the next quarter before summer break?
Proving it. A break in the restriction storm would be welcome to give us a clear run at building this business, that’s an exciting prospect. We’re also expanding with a new venue soon to open in the CBD as an extension of Sentinel. That’s exciting and we can’t wait to get into more of what we do.
