Welcome to the newest addition to our Global Expert Interview Series, featuring Oliver Rothschild, an accomplished corporate strategist and Chairman of Oliver Rothschild Corporate Advisors. With a rich background in diverse business arenas, Oliver brings a wealth of experience and insights to our conversation.
Oliver has held management positions at Buchler Rothschild Investments, has been actively involved in shaping corporate strategies, acted as Judge and Mentor to various incubators and accelerators, both locally and internationally. Prior to this, Oliver was a senior mentor at the UK Governement growth accelarator under David Cameron, as well as a Honorary Ambassador to the UK Trade and Investment, now the Department of International Trade.
Beyond corporate endeavors, Oliver has made significant contributions in non-commercial spheres. Serving as the Chairman of UNICEF’s Appeals Committee and holding the position of President of the trading arm of ACEVO, Oliver exemplifies a commitment to philanthropy and charitable initiatives.
In this insightful interview, Oliver Rothschild shares his invaluable experiences, lessons learned, and strategies that have shaped his successful career as a corporate strategist and investor. Join us as we delve into the multifaceted world of Oliver Rothschild, exploring his journey, achievements, and the principles that have guided his remarkable career.
Julia Ager, CEO, Jus Agency
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Julia: Hi Oliver, thank you so much for joining us! Let’s get right into it… For the projects that you are an investor in, what is some of the best advice are you giving the team?
A: I have this Mantra, the wisdom of Solomon gets from the mistakes that David made. I have believed this since I was 10 years old. I still have a lot to learn. Everyone makes mistakes, you’ve seen how other people made mistakes, and what you want to do is get the people you’re mentoring not to make the same mistakes and they can either take that advice or not.
For instance, during my time as a corporate mentor, I worked with charities, helping them embrace a more business-oriented perspective. They needed to be more commercial, especially when it came to knowledge transfer. It’s quite surprising how hesitant some organisations were about becoming more business-savvy. I’ve advised some educational institutions to adopt a more commercial mindset, and this shift has helped them become financially independent. For example, universities with accelerators and incubators came to me some years ago. I advised them to be a little bit more commercial about how they run their organisation, and it’s been heartening to see some universities become more financially independent through investments. For example, Imperial College and Oxford College are now financially self-sufficient rather than relying on government funding.
Q: What advice would you give to stand out to somebody like yourself? What kind of actionable advice can you give around when you stop and think that was pretty good?
A: I’ll consider a coffee meeting or consider a lunch meeting. I’m far too generous with my time but then there’s also the word FOMO (fear of missing out on opportunities) that has been in my language for years. I just don’t want to miss out.
Word of Mouth is not just for team building and culture but also for investment. Word of mouth and reputation are huge in everything. There was a situation where I felt obligated to invest after a presentation, even though I hadn’t fully understood the business. It turned out to be a mistake. It’s crucial to be sure of your own understanding before making an investment. On the flip side, when I’ve pursued an investment wisely, companies often came back to tell me how I had paraded them to other investors, building a sense of trust and confidence.
Q: Building a company relies a lot on the people you work with and team culture building. What would be your advice on building a solid team?
A: The word culture is very important, and culture is the same with the team. I can share an example of a company that had a negative culture. This tech-heavy social media company was ahead of its time, but I had limited tech knowledge. With the wrong culture, one illness after another and clashing egos became the norm. A positive culture is key, as it attracts the right team. If you get the right culture, you can then build the right team, and the team will come to you because they like the culture. I’ve seen this approach lead to success.
Q: Could you give us an example and something we can learn from in terms of a business that you’ve either worked with or invested in that you’ve seen grow exponentially?
A: Marketing should be fully aligned with your overall strategy. Your budget should be clearly defined, and you should have a clear vision of what you expect to achieve. You should always know the answers to the “what, who, how, and when” questions. Your marketing approach should ideally be tailored to the nature of your business and its stage of development.
In one example, a company decided to present its product to me by showing it on a whiteboard rather than using their own technology. I realised they lacked confidence in their product. The key lesson here is that marketing should be authentic and based on belief in your product. If you believe in it, you’ll find believers. Successful marketing should also involve a deep understanding of your business, aligning with your strategy, and being transparent.
Q: What advice would you give to stand out to an investor like yourself? What kind of actionable advice can you give around when you stop and think that was pretty good?
A: I believe in giving people the chance to tell their stories, which can often be translated into business or artistic initiatives. Understand your frustration and make use of your life by pursuing your passions. When it comes to attracting hands-on investors, present your ideas clearly and confidently. Be sure of your own understanding before making investments. Word of mouth and reputation are critical in both building a team and attracting investors.
Q: If you had $10,000 or $150,000 to spend on the growth of a business, where would you place that money whether it’s a company you’ve invested in or your own, what would you recommend for us to funnel that into?
A: The choice depends on the nature of your business. Tangible products may be easier to bring to market, but the returns are typically lower. Intangible products like advanced IT, deep tech or SaaS systems have the potential to scale significantly. It’s important to decide whether to focus on tangible or intangible products, depending on your business goals. Both can be successful, but they have different dynamics.
You can get in touch with Oliver via LinkedIn.
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About Jus Agency
Jus Agency is an international marketing agency that helps clients to grow, scale, and launch their businesses through a variety of services, including Fractional CMO services, Strategic Marketing and Expert Team Hires. Our mission is to help our clients achieve their business goals and realize their full potential.
To learn more about all the ways we can help you grow your business, head to www.jusagency.com or get in touch julia@jusagency.com
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