Member Spotlights
David McHugh
What does leadership mean to you and how do you define it?
Leadership to me is about trust and accountability. It’s about doing the simple things well, combining knowledge and empathy and always looking to raise the bar.
What is the most important lesson you have learned, from your personal or business life?
Never stop learning, every experience good and bad helps us improve and allows us to strive to be the best we can be, and that is my personal responsibility.
Is there someone who has had a major impact on you as a leader?
No one specific. I have a lot of people who I look up to from varied walks of life and am always looking to learn from those that are experts in their field.
Have you experienced failure? If so, what did you learn?
I believe we all experience failure, and regularly, the most important part is to learn from it, and not to repeat mistakes. If we are not failing, we are not learning, and while its never easy to take, it’s just part of life!
Who do you admire in the business world and why?
Personally I have huge respect for anyone who is a leader in their field, and in my industry of sport, whether its an athlete or a coach, those that create winning cultures and perform consistently over time, are those that I look up to.
What advice would you offer to new or aspiring board directors?
I hold a number of independent non-executive roles, separately to my business, in a variety of areas. I particularly enjoy the intellectual challenge and again the learning aspects. My advise is listen and absorb and speak only to add value. Understanding your role is key and your duties, its very rewarding and the more you put in the more you get out.
If you were able to run one company, apart from your own business, which would you choose and why?
I would love to work for the America’s Cup, the oldest sporting trophy, which is not just a passion for me, but is a sport that reinvests and challenges and is global with some of the best athletes on the planet.