Andrew is Co-Founder and CEO of Habitat Energy, a leading global provider of battery storage and renewable energy asset optimization, operating in the UK, Australia and the USA. Andrew is also Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ProviderTrust, a US-based software and data company that serves healthcare clients. Previously Andrew was a Principle at BCG with focus on Energy and Sustainability. Andrew’s interests are in environmental and community health and bringing the best of technology and human talent and passion together to solve complex challenges in these areas.
1. What values are most important to you as a leader?
Positivity is number 1.
Certain individuals face challenges or setbacks with resilience and a decision to move forward with determination to overcome them. Gathering a team of these individuals and cultivating a culture that encourages and sustains that is essential for doing anything hard or ambiguous, which will almost certainly involve lots of unexpected obstacles. The team’s positivity has been the most direct factor for successes achieved in the businesses I’ve led.
A very close second is a bent toward others rather than self – being more interested in helping others achieve successes, achieving team goals and celebrating victories together. For me this also includes recognising the critical importance of earning and maintaining trust and assuming positive intent from each other.
In my experience, a team operating according to these values is not only more likely to achieve their goals but also more likely to enjoy the journey.
2. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
Those who achieve great things and yet still maintain a humble and generous spirit.
Those who suffer great losses and yet retain a positive and generous spirit.
For both of these, my sister.
3. Best piece of advice you have been given?
“Don’t forget to eat” – a mentor, first week of first job.
I tend to get engrossed in what I’m doing and regularly get to the end of the day and realise I haven’t eaten, and probably neglected some other priorities as well.
This simple reminder has stuck with me and occasionally resulted in more lunches, but more importantly resulted in more deliberate setting and working toward the right priorities for the business as well as putting “first things first” in life and encouraging my team to do the same.
4. What would you tell your younger self?
Discover what’s important to you, find a few like-minded, values-aligned people who you enjoy being around and then go do it! Worry less about the risks or if you later change your mind. Life’s a journey with unexpected twists, but you won’t regret focusing on what matters to you with people who you respect and enjoy being around.
5. What has been your most important or profound lesson as a leader?
“Look inward to see outward.”
The best leaders I’ve observed have a keen self-awareness, a vulnerability in sharing that with others and an outward focus that uses their self-awareness in support of their teams.
For me this has involved spending more time reflecting and seeking help via coaches and mentors to gain an honest picture of my strengths, weaknesses and biases and learning tools to recognise emotional states, triggers, energy levels, etc. as well as the appropriate actions to help me better support and work well with others. And then a lot of practice / trial and error.
I still have a lot to learn but the opportunity to be a better leader by pressing into this is clear…not to mention the potential spillover benefits of being a better friend, spouse and parent!
