Quick fire questions with: Tom Barton
We asked Strategy Consultant Tom Barton a few questions about himself and his role.
What is your role and how long have you worked with Genoa Black?
I have worked with Genoa Black for seven years, and as a Strategy Consultant I work in close partnership with businesses helping them to develop strategies which drive their growth.
My remit mainly covers the Diagnose and Define sections of our Growth Circuit.
At the core of my role is the task of diagnosing the health of a business, identifying the key opportunities and challenges it faces today. Following this is the breaking down of their aspirations into actionable business plans that define a clear path to success.
Why do you like working with Genoa Black and your role as a whole?
Working with Genoa Black offers me the opportunity to collaborate closely with business leaders. My role allows for deep engagement with clients, and I really enjoy the relationship building aspect of the job. I get a lot of energy from working with people.
The process of strategic consultation is also rewarding as it facilitates highly tangible progress and success for businesses, which we get to enjoy and share with client teams. It is rewarding to be able to create and observe tangible success for a business.
What is your favourite kind of project to work on?
I enjoy projects where we get to grips with a business plan.
It's enjoyable because we start by looking closely at the business and its goals, then, we come up with a plan to make those goals happen, and then we help leaders to action the plan. I enjoy the whole process as in the end it delivers really tangible results that you can feel a strong sense of ownership over.
What brightens your day outside of work?
In my spare time I coach an international hockey team, run a 350 kid-strong youth hockey club and try to find time for a beer.
What are you most looking forward to as a Strategy Consultant in the upcoming year?
I am looking forward to the outcomes of work delivered last year. We will hopefully have some great client success stories this year due to the activation of last year’s work.
What is the best piece of advice for business leaders that you have heard/ given over the last couple of years and why?
You need to find time to work on your business, you can't just work in it.
How do you see Genoa Black’s strategic consultancy offering changing over the next 5 years?
I see our management consultancy growing to meet the following areas:
Integration of technology: Over the next five years, we will increasingly incorporate technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation into our strategic consultancy services, potentially developing and launching our own proprietary solutions. Watch this space!
Specialisation in industry verticals: We may deepen our expertise in specific industry verticals, tailoring offerings to meet the unique challenges and opportunities faced by clients in sectors, delivering more targeted solutions.
Strategic recruitment: We will strategically recruit talent from backgrounds and experiences that enhance our capabilities and perspectives. We will build the best team of SME consultants in Scotland.
Talk us through the growth circuit.
The Genoa Black Growth Circuit is a pathway of services that empower you to conquer your vision.
The circuit starts with diagnosing the health of your business and market, an immersive exercise that illuminates the conditions your business faces, that will shape how you can achieve your vision.
Moving round the circuit, we move onto define, which involves transforming your aspirations into a tangible, realistic route to achieving them – a business plan.
Once we have a plan defined, we work to design the pillars of your business - product, people, promotion, and process - so they are primed to support the first steps of your business plan and then the scaling beyond.
The final phase is to deliver your business. Our team offer flagship retained services that will help you run your business.