Business Leaders interview: Jamie Simon

Tell us a little about yourself and your business.

I have the pleasure of leading the events team at Banana Split, where we have the privilege to produce some of the finest private celebrations for our clients. This has included in the past year the infamous wedding of Sophie Ritche & Elliot Grainge. I am really privileged to love my job!

What motivates you in your work and what do you find most fulfilling about being a business leader?

With the company celebrating 50 years in November, I love the working for a brand that has so much legacy and has built a stellar reputation for itself and taking the challenge of not only maintaining that but pushing it forward whether that be creatively, operationally, internationally or juts seeking growth.

How did you develop your leadership skills and how would you define your leadership style?

My leadership journey started as a teenager where I was a leader in a youth movement, they really nurtured the basics of leadership and the concept of doing as I do not as I say. As such I have always felt that I needed to lead from the front and made sure that I was not only willing to do any job that I would request from my team, but I could also perform it to a very high standard. 

I believe in being very hands on which has meant as my career has developed to really push myself in delegating and trying got get that helicopter view as to what the current situation is.

Of late I have come to understand that my real role is to ensure that our team has all everything they need to fulfil their roles to the fullest.

How do you approach identifying areas for improvement within a company's operations?

We are super critical of ourselves, and I like to really deep dive on all of those small details that guests at our events would never notice but I know we could improve upon. It is all too easy to pat yourself on the back and self-congratulate on a job well done, but the constant feedback loop keeps us on our toes and striving to always do better. I think this has greatly contributed to Banana Split being kept in such high esteem by our clients, suppliers and the events industry as a whole.

Where do you think the most promising investments should be focusing on and/or made on?

Firstly, in our people, the human contact will never be replaced in events and hospitality. Secondly on technology that drives our efficiency so that we can buy ourselves more time to concentrate on providing our clients with the highest levels of service.

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN…and pause to reflect before diving in.

How do you prioritise tasks when everything feels like a priority?

Very simply, the next event is the most important and the challenge is managing our clients so that they all feel like the only one.

If you had one piece of advice for aspiring leaders – what would that be?

Pick up the phone – the human connection beats an email everytime!