November 6th, 2014: Mark Shuttleworth, former Chief Financial Officer of UAE telecoms corporation Du, has shared the inspirational story of his remarkable journey from the top of his profession to the top of the world.
Shuttleworth, who is regarded as one of the top 50 most influential Brits in the UAE, was speaking at the season-opening session of 'The Executive Mindset' Series, hosted by Canadian University Dubai (CUD) in collaboration with Shane Phillips Consultants.
Having joined Du as part of the founding team in 2005, Shuttleworth had a hand in the phenomenal growth of the company as it evolved from a young start-up with 20 members of staff to a 5,000 FTE employer, boasting 47% of the market share and $3 billion in revenue.
Adding to his professional success, Shuttleworth joined the international climbing elite in 2012, when he became one of just 350 people worldwide to have successfully scaled the seven summits and among only the second father-daughter team in history to make the ascents.
Reflecting on the lessons he learnt while climbing the professional ladder, Shuttleworth revealed clear comparisons with his Everest experience. Looking back on his early career, he said he knew from an early age that he wanted to reach the top of the accounting profession, but felt that the traditional path was too slow.
"One of the most important things I learnt - both on the expedition and throughout my career - is that you don't always have to take the prescribed path. In accounting there is a 'traditional' route to the top, but by taking a calculated risk I reached my goal and advanced to CFO of a PLC by the age of 37" he revealed.
However, Shuttleworth also advised that planning and patience are important ingredients for success. "You have to have a road map to your final destination, he said, "For Everest, we knew we had to build our skills slowly, we worked up through the seven summits, and even when we took on the final expedition we knew we wouldn't get there straight away; for five days at the summit it takes the body seven to eight weeks to acclimatize."
Shuttleworth also spoke of the importance of gathering the right support team for the challenges ahead - whether in the boardroom or on the mountain. Having taken on the Everest expedition with his 18 year old daughter, the family stakes were high.
He revealed, "The season we made our Everest ascent saw a number of casualties before and during our expedition. That was a harrowing experience for our family back home. Having the right team around us was absolutely vital to our success."
Concluding that, despite all the challenges, he never considered giving up, Shuttleworth said, "You have to step out of your comfort zone to succeed. Take the leap of faith and, most importantly, enjoy it when you get there."
The presentation was the first in the 2014-15 series of leadership talks to be hosted by CUD in association with Shane Phillips Consultants. The upcoming program will see inspirational leaders share their professional insights across a wide range of business sectors, including healthcare, technology, media and logistics.
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