The voice of business in the Tees region | 21
at work. “On the up, no one trains you on
how you should feel or cope. Some people
embrace success and splash the cash.
Others, like me, feel they shouldn’t because
they don’t want to rub people’s faces in it.
It’s a battle within your own head.
“Only through speaking about it with
the Institute of Directors and through
coaching and self-reflection did I transform
my thinking and accept you can’t always
keep people happy. I also appointed a non-
executive director, Gary Lumby, to share
the burden. I’d recommend any business
to do this, or at least have someone on the
board as a mentor figure. It makes a huge
difference.”
Five years working with local charity
Teesside Philanthropic Foundation also
helped Karl’s equilibrium.
“The Philanthropic keeps me grounded.
I’m lucky that I not only run a successful
business, but my clients have money, so
it’s easy to become detached. Charity work
gives me a sense of responsibility which is
both humbling and rewarding.”
Karl is excited about his new role as
the chair of the IoD (Tees Valley). “It’s a
chance to create something and grow it.
The IoD has Royal Charter so we answer
to the Queen. We are there to lobby the
government; to represent the business
community and to up-skill company
directors’ knowledge which means they
should run better businesses.
“In particular, it’s a great opportunity to
represent the voice of the businesses of
Teesside. Given the start that’s been made
with Ben Houchen as a devolved powers
mayor, this region has an opportunity over
the next few years to gain a march – like
Active did when the banks imploded.
“Through devolved powers politically
with mayor Ben Houchen, local authority
wise with the combined authority or even
through the IoD with myself, we can
make our voice heard on a national and
international basis.
“If we don’t grab this opportunity, then
whether it’s central government, central IoD
or the bodies within London who we claim
never hear the voice of the North-East, then
we have no argument if those powers get
taken back to London and they say, ‘Well,
we gave you that chance to speak up and
you didn’t’.
“Teesside is already on the up in my
opinion and it’s only the perception and
mentality of people here that’s potentially
holding us back, because if that doesn’t
change and become more optimistic, how
do we expect those outside of Teesside to
be more optimistic and positive towards
us?”