Adrienne Minster is CEO of Rated People, the leading UK home services marketplace with 5m consumers and 15k annual tradespeople active on the platform nationwide. During her tenure, Adrienne has taken the company to profitability and the business has twice been recognised as one of the Best Companies to Work For in the UK.
Over the course of her career, Adrienne has successfully built and scaled businesses in a wide variety of settings, ranging from start-ups to large corporates. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and working with organisations that have potential for transformation and growth.
Before joining Rated People, Adrienne served as Global Head of Online at hibu (formerly Yell Group). She also has management consulting experience, working with Booz & Company in the US, and led operations for a national HIV/AIDS treatment programme in South Africa with BroadReach Healthcare.
1. What values are most important to you as a leader?
Above and beyond talent and motivation, the qualities I look for are openness, kindness and integrity when I’m building a team.
2. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
A lot of my inspiration comes from my family during my childhood. My grandparents taught me the power of kindness and laughter. My parents made me brave and always reinforced that I could do anything I set my mind to.
3. Best piece of advice you have been given?
“Seek out advice. Ignore what doesn’t resonate, apply what does.”
Another one that I keep coming back to is, “make sure you have the ‘conditions for success’ in place any time you take on a new role or project.” When you’re excited about an opportunity, it’s easy to think, “oh I’ll just work around that”, when really you should negotiate for what you need to deliver OR you should walk away.
4. What would you tell your younger self?
Sometimes when you stop trying so hard, everything just falls into place.
5. What has been your most important or profound lesson as a leader?
A positive culture is the single most important thing to build as a leader. An empowered, talented team with shared values can accomplish anything.
