2015 Public Sector Finalists

Joanne Owen, Blackhorse, Lloyds Banking Group

The shortlist – click on a name to read their personal “Leadership Story”

Chris Davies – Contract Manager, Valero Oil Refinery
Mike Gorshkov – Founder and Managing Director, Linea Resourcing Ltd
Joanne Owen – Front Line Manager, Blackhorse, Lloyds Banking Group (winner)

Chris Davies

Contract Manager for CAN (one of the leading providers of Engineering, Inspection and Maintenance solutions worldwide) at Valero Oil Refinery Pembroke

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I believe life experiences are an essential part of life and help shape the type of person you become. Over the years I have had many experiences and also worked in a variety of jobs from milkman, council beach cleaner, call centre worker, barman to Non Destructive Testing Technician. I have been lucky to experience good and bad supervision, management, leadership and I have seen how those behaviours impact people in the organisation. From these experiences I now have the desire to do better, challenge myself and make the culture enjoyable and challenging for those that report to me.

What have been the main highlights and challenges since taking up your leadership role with CAN?

The main highlight for me has been the opportunity to develop a world class team, providing well paid sustainable careers for local people and watching them develop. By focussing on our staff development in line with business needs, we have seen the business grow and the service level to the client increase.

Recognition of our hard work came when we were awarded the Investors in People Gold Standard.

I have been able to lead by example and gain additional qualifications which enabled me to become a Chartered Manager with the CMI.

My main challenge has been recruitment.

What have been the most helpful things you have learnt from these highlights and challenges?

 Having a clear vision, goals and objectives and communicating them effectively.

People are at the heart of every business and are crucial for success.

To engage with everyone, encourage them to take part and listen to their ideas and make them feel that they are valued.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing leaders in Wales in 2015?

• Succession planning and recruiting people with the right skills
• Encouraging investment with sustainable job creation for more rural parts of Wales

Which other leaders in Wales do you admire and why?

Sir Terry Matthews for staying loyal to his roots and investing in Wales, creating jobs and boosting the economy.

 What is one word that sums up leadership for you?

Communication

Chris is the Manager for CAN based at Valero Oil Refinery, Pembroke, where CAN have held the term inspection contract for the last 15 years.

Mike Gorshkov

Founder and Managing Director, Linea Resourcing Ltd

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I’ve grown up with strong values, determination, resilience and work ethic which came from my parents and significantly my grandfather a Russian immigrant who built a better life for himself in Wales. I’ve worked my way up the career ladder and despite running my own business still lead from the front as a motivator to my team and as a way of keeping in touch with our customers. I’ve worked with several good managers over the years. This has led me to instilling in the business clear vision, direction and empowerment which has seen many of our people flourish as the business has developed, something I’m very proud of.

What have been the main highlights and challenges since taking up your leadership role with Linea Resourcing Ltd?  

I launched Linea Resourcing in 2002 with £2,500. The initial challenge was getting momentum and brand recognition in a hugely competitive market. Once I gained momentum attracting and developing people become the biggest challenge and once overcome I moved to the next challenge of developing our management team, all of whom have been promoted internally. Our biggest challenges remain development and attraction of talented people. Main highlights: profitable every year since launch, our first employee still with the business, being awarded IIP Silver, appearing in Wales Fast Growth 50 for 4years consecutively.

What have been the most helpful things you have learnt from these highlights and challenges?

Believe in yourself firstly, develop bounce backability, believe in your vision, believe in and listen to your people, conduct business ethically, communicate your vision and message tirelessly, work hard to make a difference and pretty much anything is achievable.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing leaders in Wales in 2015?

Attracting, developing and retaining talent in Wales. So often we see hugely talented individuals move out of the country to further their careers. If Wales is compete globally and punch above its weight we need to have a strategy to develop, attract and retain world class talent for Wales.

Which other leaders in Wales do you admire and why?

Steve Dalton OBE has revitalised Sony’s presence as a leading employer and manufacturer in Wales. Steve is an inspiring, visionary, can do leader and has shown amazing conviction to the power of collaboration, development of people and an empowering culture. The plant is now ranked as one of the best manufacturing facilities globally.

What is one word that sums up leadership for you?
Believe

Mike Gorshkov is Managing Director and founder of Cardiff based Linea Resourcing a leading technical recruitment consultancy. Heading a team of 20 talented individuals Mike has set a clear vision and direction for the business and works with his people to develop their skills, enabling careers to flourish and goals to be achieved.

Joanne Owen

Front Line Manager, Blackhorse, Lloyds Banking Group

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I am responsible for a team of 90 heads, which is very demanding and having 2 small children and balancing their needs, whilst also pursuing my personal interest in marathon running, I barely saw my family. My request to reduce my hours was accepted, although adjusting took some careful management.  I have always been conscious of making the most of my time both inside and outside work, and I tend to get some of my best ideas and solutions to problems whilst out running.  I find it’s been a great way to get perspective on work related matters.

What have been the main highlights and challenges since taking up your leadership role with Blackhorse Finance?

The main highlights since taking up my leadership role has been the employment of Apprentices into our business. Taking a risk on young adults who have left school with no qualifications or work experience, and providing them with employment and building up their skills and confidence has been heart warming. The challenges I have faced were at the height of the financial crisis. This was a period of great uncertainty not just for me but also my team. Having to live through numerous restructures and apply for my own role against fierce competition whilst balancing the needs and concerns for my team.

What have been the most helpful things you have learnt from these highlights and challenges?

I have learnt that qualifications and previous work experience isn’t always necessary but your ability to see the potential in people is just as important. To stand back and ask ‘does this person have the values for the business to succeed?’

What do you think is the biggest issue facing leaders in Wales in 2015?

The biggest issue facing leaders in Wales is survival. Strong leaders will inevitably gravitate towards promotional roles within their trade. Competition for roles is ferocious. Staying on top of your game is key to succession and staying on top of your game in role is survival of the fittest.

Which other leaders in Wales do you admire and why?

Leanne Wood, the first female leader of Plaid Cymru. An inspirational leader as she stays true to her values. She’s also a mother and has worked through adversity to get to her position today and leads and inspires from the front through her pure passion and beliefs.

What is one word that sums up leadership for you?

Authenticity

Joanne has 17 years experience of serving customers through effective operational management. She has the responsibility of providing strategic leadership to circa 75 colleagues and building the performance  of the department and growing the strengths of those that report in to her.

Disclaimer: All details included in these leadership stories have been provided by the finalists themselves.  All information has been accepted in good faith.  Any references to individuals or circumstances have been relayed in the finalist’s own words and have not been verified by the Leading Wales Awards Directors or its Consortium.  Any views expressed are those of the individuals concerned and are not necessarily the views of the Leading Wales Awards Directors or Consortium members.