Byron Tarboton is one of the longest-serving BIE employees and is responsible for leading both the Technology Search Practice as well as BIE’s Executive search capability. We sat down with Byron to discover the secret of his career success, the best advice he’s ever been given and what his ultimate bucket list item is…
Why were you selected to be on the board?
I’d worked in the business for a long time, in a variety of roles and projects. I believe the owners of the company at the time felt I had delivered value for the business by demonstrating the appropriate behaviours, built strong internal relationships, developed team members and driven revenue growth.
What key pieces of advice would you give to people looking to become a partner or board member?
Concentrate on being good at what you do and try to be the best you are as an individual. You need to live and breathe the values of the organisation.
Focus on yourself first but look at your broader team members and peers across the organisation and consider how you help them enhance their roles – it’s basically transitioning from ‘me’ to ‘we’.
What is your greatest source of job satisfaction?
Working on a challenging mandate where we overcome the odds to deliver a successful search, meaning that both the client and the candidate are excited by the outcome. I also truly like working with my colleagues at BIE, and I think that’s extremely important.
What’s the secret to your career success?
Success to me means working with people I respect, within a business that enables me to grow professionally and become a better version of myself. It’s all down to the individual and the broader team you work with - what you put in is what you get out of it. If you can have fun while doing it, then all the better!
I really like the culture, the people and the work we do, and that’s a reason to continue working and being successful.
I also love the variety my role gives me. Every day we’re learning about a new client, a new industry or a new challenge in the market we’ve never come across before. If you have that constant hunger to learn, recruitment can be an exciting place to be and it's something I personally thrive on.
What have you learnt along the way?
Work within a culture that works with you, for you and enables a healthy work-life balance – it’s not all about the job, it’s not all about the company, you still need to have a life.
I’ve always tried to learn a little from all peers and role models in my life. Take the bits you like and that you feel add value and adopt that into your leadership style.
Give people trust, empower them and they will perform!
How would you sum up the BIE culture?
It’s a collaborative environment; we’re always open to new ideas and concepts, which can also present some challenges. We certainly pioneer a strong work-life balance. Knowing that everything we do isn’t always correct but being willing to learn and change demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in our style.
In essence, the culture is open and welcoming, people are made to feel valued and intrinsic to the company’s success.
Name one thing on your bucket list.
Hot air ballooning across the Maasai Mara during the Great (Wildebeest) migration
What fictional world or place would you like to visit? Why?
The matrix, because it’s a world where you can manipulate the elements within a futuristic landscape. Also, you can fly and fight bad guys!
What is your first thought when you wake up and your last thought at night?
In the morning, my first thought is usually that I am grateful to be alive… shortly followed by “can I move?” (after playing football the night before) and then wondering if I’ve slept through my train alarm.
At night, are the kids asleep and not causing chaos? What’s in store tomorrow and have I planned my travel accordingly?
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