EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
Having guided Bayzat from a start-up to a high growth company , I ’ d like to offer a unique perspective , based on my own experiences and learnings , on just three essential abilities that CEOs , particularly those at start-ups and scale-ups , need to build strong businesses .
1 . Focus
CEOs should always define their company ’ s purpose within the context of its customers . Mission , vision , operations , messaging – everything should be built around the customer . Often in business – especially with digital technologies introducing previously unimaginable levels of agility to industries – we hear the word ‘ pivot ’. Reacting to changing markets is certainly tempting when you operate in a competitive space but leaping before you are ready is not prudent .
Keeping your focus often means saying ‘ no ’ more often than you say ‘ yes ’. In the era of Digital Transformation , more and more businesses do not begin life in a factory , mall or high street ; they are born in the cloud and surrounded by opportunities to build out their capacities . But always remember the fundamentals . Any pivoting should align with customer needs , with the value proposition of the change put front and centre .
None of these practices stops you from prototyping and experimenting , but such testing should occur in such a way as to not drain resources from your core areas . If your experiments bear fruit , then they can deliver value in future operations , but your feasibility studies should not be thought of as core operations . how you build that culture in the first place . Never be afraid of feedback , as your employees can let you know the pros and cons of your current corporate environment .
Also , remember that you cannot please everybody every time . So do not try . Instead try to build a diverse , inclusive workplace where everyone can feel heard . The ‘ right ’ corporate culture can vary greatly from one organisation to the next . No matter how you choose to define this , it ’ s vital to ensure the people you hire buy into your organisation ’ s culture .
3 . Commitment to continuous growth
A successful CEO will remain reflective of their strengths and weaknesses through day-to-day team interactions , feedback and their ongoing research . There are many mentorship resources in the UAE and beyond . Never be afraid to leave your comfort zone for the sake of education .
Founding a business and making it grow is not easy . But as we often hear , nothing worthwhile ever is . Entrepreneurs who make it will falter and learn and grow themselves before bringing that progress to their enterprise . If you are one of these , reach out to those who come after you . Share your failures and successes to ensure the next generation can peak more quickly .
2 . Champions of culture
Culture should be top of mind for CEOs as they look to build the teams that will lead their organisation to success . When hiring , alignment with culture is vital , but you need to consider
TALAL BAYAA , CO-FOUNDER AND
CEO OF BAYZAT
22 www . intelligentcxo . com