Dan Ware Interview

Tell me a little about yourself (in a few sentences):

Father, husband and tech entrepreneur.

What has been the proudest moment of your career?

I have two;

– being voted in the top 100 companies to work for in the UK in 2019

– making 8 of my colleagues shareholders in Big Golden Pineapple

What hopes do you have for the fin tech industry for the future?

Great question. I’d like to see barriers to scale broken down for start ups. Unfortunately large organsations that act as suppliers to fintech start up really act as bottlenecks, stifle innovation and really harm growth trajectory

How do you think a business can nurture employee buy-in for its objectives and values?

Make people feel valued.

Show your appreciation.

Help people grow both professionally and personally

Have a flat structure and an open door policy.

As a leader, show vulnerability

Have opportunities for progression

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Believe in yourself, but self belief and a great idea will only take you so far. You need an inner circle that compliments your skill and supports you to create a culture set to succeed.

What do you do to unwind?

Run, cycle and spend time with my three boys.

What does being a leader look like to you?

Accountability, transparency, clarity of vision and vulnerability

What advice would you give to your younger self?

It will all be okay in the end. And appreciate the bad because they show everything else for what it really is.

How would your wife describe you in three words?

Driven, focused, energetic

What celebrity would you cast to play you in a movie about your life?

Daniel Day Lewis; I’m a chameleon and I take each role extremely seriously