I will be retiring as CEO of La Motte and Leopard’s Leap at the end of 2025. (Read more) It feels somewhat unreal and I reckon to contemplate the past, is a natural thing to do. Despite having many plans and business ventures to continue with, I guess it is also natural to have some uncertainty about the future. With the latest Trump tariff talk concerning Apple (read more), I was reminded about Steve Jobs’s famous Connecting the Dots speech and I realised that much of it is very relevant for me right now.
When you get to the end of your ‘formal’ career you want to look back and be happy with what you see. I am extremely privileged that I do feel content. I am grateful for the people and opportunities that crossed my path. It was a learning school, a challenge and an exciting way to live. I had the best job. But more than my sentiments, one does ask the questions: Was it worth it, did it make a difference? Did I spend my time and effort wisely? Can I connect the dots?
Even though you stand at the centre of your own career, it is never a solo effort and one can never take all the credit for what was achieved. I am grateful for the way in which we did manage to make a difference. Not only in the obvious business aspects and the actual offerings and experiences that we created, but also for playing a role in the bigger industry and being involved in our communities. I have seen kids reach their potential because of systems and opportunities we created and that is very rewarding.
Of course, the job is never done and even though we have come a long way, there is still so much more to do, many more challenges to address and new levels to reach in making a difference. When your own role in this machine is changing, it brings with it a sense of uncertainty. When Steve Jobs talks about connecting the dots, he says that it is only in hindsight that we see how the picture comes together. This is true for looking back, but it is also a reassurance for the future.
I agree with Steve Jobs. If we do the groundwork through research, benchmarking and applying critical thought, if we work strategically and in clever collaboration, we set ourselves up for success and then we have to trust the process. Even if it is not completely clear right away, eventually the dots will connect and we will see the complete picture.
I have another six months in active duty serving the brands I love and after that I will stay involved in another capacity. Regardless of the opportunities ahead, I am looking forward to creating a new picture and for the time being, connecting the dots one by one.