Our Founder & CEO Suki Sandhu celebrates Audeliss’ 7th birthday with the 7 most important lessons he’s learned since he created Audeliss. See his personal message below:
Back in 2010, I had the desire to change the executive search industry.
I wanted to level the playing field in boardrooms and leadership teams for women, ethnic minorities and LGBT+ candidates, and so in 2011, I officially set up my executive search firm, Audeliss.
It’s been an amazing journey, with many ups and downs. Business is doing incredibly well and I genuinely feel we’ve made a difference to the diversity landscape. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve loved every step along the way and I’ve learned so much.
So, with Audeliss celebrating its seventh birthday this month, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Grab a drink, sit back and have a read about the main lessons I learned each year since Audeliss was created. I’ve also included a lesson for the year ahead.
1. Decide – Make the leap
I really do believe that the first step in success is to make a decision. Once you’ve made that decision to go ahead and do whatever it is you want or need to do, things will start to flow. I know many people that have had great ideas but never quite made that final decision to do it, and therefore their idea was never realised. So back in 2011 I decided to start Audeliss and I vowed that I was going to make a difference in executive search and change the status quo for women, ethnic minorities and LGBT+ executives. That was my motivation, and I would add that it’s crucial to know WHY you are making that decision too, when considering your next steps.
2. Stay committed
Setting up a business is easy. In 2017 alone, there were over 9000 new recruitment agency start-ups.
However, setting up a successful business is hard.
It takes a lot of commitment and a lot of hard work. That’s why knowing the reason behind what you’re doing is key… whenever you’re finding it tough, think back to the WHY and that should keep you moving forward. For me, I had a clear purpose which was to change the image of the executive search industry and to level the playing field.
3. Work smart
There really is a difference between being busy and productive. It was in 2013 that I also founded OUTstanding, the membership network for the LGBT+ community, and during that initial process it was hugely important for me to learn even better how to prioritise. It’s not easy prioritising when you have two businesses, equally important, with many things to be done. Working smart is about placing things in order of importance or urgency, asking for help and reaching goals in the most efficient way possible.
Setting goals, having a routine and finding the most resource-optimal way to do things is how to work smart. Learn not to say yes to everything.
4. Hire the right people & delegate
Like Richard Branson says: “When people work toward a common goal, they are driven, passionate and purposeful.”
I could never have run my businesses without my amazing teams and my trusted networks. At first, I found it incredibly hard to delegate. With so much passion and energy for my work, I wanted to do it all myself, and initially I did. I was doing contracts, diary management, business development and interviewing to name a few, but I knew I would need more help to grow. The only way to truly do this and grow your business successfully is to surround yourself with a fantastic team who fulfil the gaps you have. I know I’m not the most organised person, so I need an awesome PA for instance (which I have). Hire the right people and you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
5. Enthusiasm = Success
I genuinely love what I do and thoroughly believe that passion, enthusiasm and delivering excellent service is the key to success.
Walter Chrysler sums it up perfectly:
The only thing I’d change about that quote is to include women and non-binary individuals too. We all have the ability to change the world, as long as we’re enthusiastic and are willing to work hard.
This takes us back to the ‘WHY’, when setting up on your own. If you’re no longer enthusiastic about the why, the chances are you won’t succeed.
6. Give back
This is something I learned quite early on in life actually. My parents owned a grocery shop where I would spend a lot of my time outside of school with my older brother and younger sister. When you grow up seeing customers struggling to pay for a loaf of bread or a pint of milk, you’re exposed to the harsh realities of life at a very young age and having that awareness of the disadvantages faced by so many people has always inspired me to want to make a good life for myself and to help others do the same.
I support many charities, but most notably the Albert Kennedy Trust and Outright International and I’m also a Stonewall Ambassador.
7. Know your values
I think in life, knowing your values is incredibly important. Not just for work reasons, but for personal reasons. What do you hold true? What is acceptable? What do you stand for? What will you not stand for? Surround yourself by people and other businesses that hold a similar set of values as you, and you will be off to the best start.
Audeliss values are a real reflection of my own personal values because I can only operate a business that holds the same virtues as me. I don’t think you can run an authentic business without holding the same values.
Our values (mine and Audeliss) are:
· Be human
· Be brilliant
· Be loyal
8. Reach for the stars
So for the year ahead? Once you’ve reached your goals, assess your situation and decide what’s next. Not everyone wants to be the next Richard Branson or start up a drinks company to rival Coca Cola, but I’d still always say ‘aim high’.
Audeliss has just turned seven and I’m incredibly proud of what myself and my team have achieved. There is so much more to do though and I’ll keep pushing until diversity is no longer an issue.
Happy and proud of what we’ve achieved, I’m aiming high. My team is aiming high. We’re expanding to New York and we have big plans for the next few years.”