I would like to add a company culture which does not come from hierarchy or so-called mansplaining, as we all have something to add to the conversation and solution.
Patrick Leyland
CFO at Leyland Consulting LLC & Author of this article
An extraordinary man ,American with worldwide background, passionate about finance
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Monthly Interview.December Edition-Mr Patrick Leyland
Let me introduce you to someone absolutely extraordinary, Mr Patrick Leyland. Our CFO has unique combination of skills which helps us to grow
Hello, I am Patrick Leyland, originally from the New Orleans area but grew up in Chicago, then lived in Europe where I worked as a tour guide and eventually met the CEO of this company, which changed my life forever. Since coming back to the U.S. I have also worked in property management, which I enjoyed, but unfortunately the market is a bit slow right now. In my free time, I love to read and educate myself on world cultures and geography, go for walks/hikes on nature trails, spend time with family, and cycling.
What exactly is your role? What you add to company culture ?
For now, my role in the company is more back office, handling things like budget forecasting, business trip planning, dealing with the red tape, market research, paying invoices etc.
Not necessarily what people imagine doing when starting a business, but necessary for company success.
I would like to add a company culture which does not come from hierarchy or so-called mansplaining, as we all have something to add to the conversation and solution.
Also, I feel that respecting other’s culture/background/holidays is important too, because while we are here to provide a paid service, we are also human and share this planet together.
Finally, I would not like to copy the culture of big corporations with hidden discussions, decisions made by few that affect many, and answering to shareholders desire for profit over what is the right thing to do.
My general approach to dealing with people comes from the book 12 Rules for Life, which states “Assume the person you are talking to knows something that you don’t”.
I try to share my knowledge but listen to theirs as well.
How your background blends with the role?
My entire career has been dealing with customer facing roles, from working in restaurants while studying, being a tour guide in Europe, and a leasing agent for a property manager in Florida. So, you can say for now that it does not have much to do with my current role, but my father showed me when I was young how to balance a household budget, and as an only child I often ran errands for the family and made sure bills were paid on time ( of course, financial education is there too! )
As the company grows, I will begin using more my professional skills in talking to people with all different backgrounds and businesses as I did as a tour guide, sharing my knowledge, but listening and learning from what they have to say as well. In fact, I’m sure I remember and learned more from my clients then they learned from me.
What’s your approach with dealing with people? How you demonstrate it ?
My general approach to dealing with people comes from the book 12 Rules for Life, which states “Assume the person you are talking to knows something that you don’t”. I try to share my knowledge but listen to theirs as well.
Also, because of growing up in Chicago and working with many diverse backgrounds in Europe, I try to know something about where the person comes from and impress a little bit to break the ice.
A little bit of knowledge or a nice word goes a long way. Earlier this year in Poland, I noticed that many of the taxi drivers are Uzbek, so I looked up how to say thank you, which is “Rakhmat” in their language. When I used it in Sopot, the drivers face smiled from ear to ear, which I am sure he did not expect. Methods like these help to break barriers and get someone who might be a bit tense in a new situation to open up.
Bonus: Travel tips Europe and Florida
For Europe, I would say that most of the continent is safe to visit and I would recommend going off the beaten path. While Paris, Rome, London, and Barcelona are worth to visit once in a lifetime, I really enjoyed and would recommend the Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The people and food are fantastic, the architecture and nature stunning, and the tourist crowds non-existent (at least in 2014).
In Florida, I would recommend visiting the springs in the north for bathing and kayaking to experience the real Florida rather than Miami, which is not an accurate depiction of the entire state.
Next Month new interview!