Sadik Pothiawala
Managing Director
After 22 years as managing director of Samarind, Sadik Pothiawala still has his sights set high. Sadik and his wife Miranda, director of software, have grown their business from a back bedroom in Little Sutton to a highly successful operation that has just achieved Microsoft Gold Partner status to add to its many other industry accreditations.
The secret, says Sadik, is empathy.
He says: "It's important to be able to recognise what will put a smile on the customer's face. That should be the priority. We are proud of our skills and knowledge, of the systems we develop, but we also recognise that our customers' concern isn't how a solution works but simply how well it works. By taking the time to learn about your customers and their business you can make sure that what you deliver will please them."
Choosing the right people is another imperative.
"One thing Miranda and I have both learned over the years is to employ people who are better than you and to let them do their job," says Sadik. "I believe we've achieved that goal. We have excellent managers and staff who are technically better than us - which is how it should be.
"I want Samarind to grow but I believe Miranda and I now have to step back a bit to help make that happen. We need to make room for these exceptional people to take the business forward."
'Stepping back a bit' will also allow the co-directors to spend more time with their three children, Emma (16), Alex (14) and Kate (12). Sadik would also like to be able to take advantage of more of those days the British weather allows him for his hobby - flying. Sadik passed a series of exams and practical tests to achieve his Private Pilot's Licence over two years ago.
"The world would be a much safer place if they tested car drivers like pilots," says Sadik. "With flying, you have to take absolute responsibility, not only for your piloting but for the aircraft itself. You are the captain. You can't blame somebody else if one of the tyres is a bit flat or you find yourself trying to land in fog because you forgot to check the weather at your destination."
"Flying is inspiring. On a clear day the views are fantastic. Turn left out of Hawarden airfield, for example, and you soon have Snowdonia and Anglesey spread out below you. Unfortunately, the British weather can be frustrating, so I don't think I'll invest in buying my own plane: I'm content to hire one from a flying school. I have considered building my own plane, though..."
No half measures with Sadik. He admits that and he and Miranda are workaholics but adds "in a good way, because we really enjoy our work."
"I want to enjoy life," he says, "and I want other people to enjoy life, too."
"It's not about the money. I know that's an easy thing to say but it's absolutely true. Money is not the driving force of my life or of Samarind. What is important is that we always deliver what we promise and that we run a good, clean business. We should delight our customers - they must never feel disappointed or let down by us.
"That's why I have an open door policy. Few of our customers take me up on it, because they so rarely have problems they need to talk about. But the offer is there. If they want to call in perhaps to discuss future requirements or need reassurance about their IT systems, they are more than welcome to do so."
Published Spring 2009