This week we are featuring the exceptional Dale Murray CBE in our inspiration women in business series. Dale is currently a Partner at Founders Intelligence, a NED at the global cloud accounting software company, Xero and NED at Cranemere. She co-founded the Omega Logic selling the business in 2004, and later becoming British Angel Investor of the Year and receiving a CBE in 2013 for her services to business.
1. Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
“You can’t grow as a leader if you are trying to do it all yourself”
This advice holds as much for your personal growth, as the growth of your business, and is hard for founders who are used to contributing to much of what has developed the business thus far. The trick of course is to find brilliant people to work with, enabling you to grow up into more strategic leadership.
2. Worst piece of advice you’ve been given?
“Don’t worry if you’re not enjoying it; just stick it out for a couple of years.”
It is important to do your best in the roles and commitments that you take on, nonetheless I have learned that I do my very best work when I really look forward to the day ahead; when I thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing. If this is not the case, and while acting constructively and professionally, it is usually better to cut your losses.
3. What would you tell your younger self?
Ambition and drive are great but remember to enjoy the journey.
4. What excites you most about the future of your industry?
There are simply still so many businesses to convert to the benefits of cloud technology. It’s not hard to switch from desktop software, and once you have, you’ll never go back, so it’s exciting to think about how many more businesses can benefit.
5. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
Baroness Lane-Fox continues to be an inspiration; to achieve what she has in business and then apply her energies to Doteveryone, Twitter and the House of Lords, and do it all in a thoughtful and compassionate way is constantly inspiring.
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