Recently, we sat down with Keith to learn more about the Enterprise Ireland Leadership 4 Growth programme that he completed. We explored how this programme has influenced ATC Computer Logistics & Transport as a business and his management style.
Tell us about the Leadership 4 Growth programme?
Sure, Enterprise Ireland runs the Leadership 4 Growth programme for CEOs of growing companies, It equips them with the leadership skills and strategic insight necessary to scale their businesses both domestically and internationally. The programme offers a comprehensive blend of workshops, coaching, experiential learning, and invaluable networking opportunities that is backed by serious academic rigour delivered by the IESE business school in Barcelona.
Why did you decide to participate in the Leadership 4 Growth programme?
Taking over as Managing Director for my family business was exciting but challenging. While I have an intrinsic understanding of the business having been involved from an early age, I also recognised that we had bold ambitions for the future that needed to be formalised and that we needed to be open to some innovative perspectives from peers and other business leaders who have ‘walked the walk”, so to speak.
What sets this programme apart for you from others?
For me, the Leadership 4 Growth programme is the only one in Ireland tailored for executive development, specifically for global business expansion. Its international recognition as a leading executive development programme was a major draw for me, and it is recognised as one of the leading executive development programmes globally.
Another reason the programme appealed to me was that ATC has a strong relationship with Enterprise Ireland, and I greatly appreciated their support and expertise. For example, In June 2022, we were proud to be one of a small number of Irish businesses asked to participate in the Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission in Frankfurt, where a delegation visited our Operations HQ.
Reading case studies from previous participants also showed me that this programme had an excellent track record for delivering results.
Did you have any key objectives when you set out to do this course?
Absolutely, a couple.
From a business perspective, we aimed to bring ATC to a global stage while scaling our team carefully and strategically. However, we needed a clear roadmap to translate our ambition into simple, actionable steps for the entire team.
One of my priorities was building a leadership team capable of overseeing the growing and diverse functions of the business, teams and services.
I sought advice on the best tools to implement to support our teams. Even seemingly minor changes, like introducing Microsoft PowerPlatform, has revolutionised our internal processes and communications. As a company with a reputation for exceeding our client’s expectations, we had to do the same for our team and our own business.
Lastly, on a personal level, I wanted clarity on the direction of the business and the role I needed to play as Managing Director. Participating in this programme has afforded me a unique opportunity to learn from peers facing similar challenges, which reassured me that we were on the right path.
Can you tell us about any key highlights of participating in the course, e.g., a trip to New York City?
Some of the standout moments on the programme were the trips to Barcelona, Munich and New York where we got to be fully present for entire weeks at a time. The team from IESE were strict on getting us to disconnect from day-to-day work and immerse ourselves in the tour programme, group activities, and interactive events with visiting CEOs. It’s fair to say that as our cohort, we connected more and more, and learned as much from each other as from the formal sessions. Hearing of common challenges and sharing solutions that have worked elsewhere was eye-opening and empowering. By the time we got to the last week in New York, we were a tight-knit group, able to share openly, give fair advice (and even critique).
How has this programme supported the strategic planning in ATC as you drive towards being a global business?
The Strategic Growth Plan developed through the programme has given us the roadmap and step-by-step actions to drive forward agreed-upon KPIs, which hold us all accountable. The KPIs have greatly supported us in making data-driven business decisions, and we can iterate as needed based on real-time results.
The Strategic Growth Plan helped me create the Leadership Team we now have in place with their own responsibilities that align with the ‘big picture’ of the business.
Additionally, we are just at the final stages of developing our revised brand mission, vision, and values, which reflect the SGP. We look forward to sharing this very soon.
We have also expanded our range of services and reached that all-important milestone of operating beyond Europe, which we will also share more about soon.
Most recently, we held a very special event in our Dublin HQ to mark the launch of our EV fleet. On the day, we announced our commitment to spend €22.5 million over five years across our operations, primarily targeted at our trucks to support in our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. You can read this story in full over on The Irish Times.
What would you say to someone considering participating in the L4G programme?
I encourage anyone who is considering the L4G to go for it. Participating in this programme has helped us to solidify our ambitions and make strides towards reaching those goals.
On a personal note, it has given me the clarity and confidence to deliver on the big ideas we have always had, and I couldn’t be more excited about the business’s future.
I want to take this opportunity to thank our mentors, my fellow participants, and friends for their support, as well as the whole team at ATC for sharing this vision and working with the leadership team and myself to make it happen.
Together, we move forward.
