Jason Paris – CEO, One New Zealand
My first job was stacking shelves at Pak n Save in the morning before school and sweeping out a car painters after school.
I started my career in customer services at Trust Bank, Southland (now Westpac). I loved the great people, fantastic boss, loads of variety and the subsidised lunches...
My first boss was a fantastic leader. He hired great people and empowered them, backed the ideas of his team and was always prepared to do any role to help out; plus he created a great culture that celebrated success.
I learnt to never be afraid to ask for help. It helped that my boss (Murray Heath) had my back and believed in me when I made mistakes along the way - and there were a lot of them!
I’ve always really enjoyed being a part of a team and doing whatever I can to help that team be successful.
I was really surprised when I was selected as captain for my U15 soccer team, and again really surprised to be selected again to captain my school 1st XI. I definitely wasn’t the most talented player in any of those teams - but the coach must have seen something in me.
It’s the story of my life so far, as the people that I work with today are so much more talented than I am, but I get the privilege of leading the organisation. Maybe that’s the key to getting to be a CEO - work with way more talented people than yourself.
I get bored really easily, like change, and trying new things and learning - so I have had loads of jobs in a range of different industries. However, technology/media has been the focus for the last twenty years.
My first CEO role was a disaster. I took the job for the money and the title, but there was a massive values misalignment between the owners and I decided it wasn’t for me and left relatively quickly.
I didn’t even interview for this CEO role. I was just told that I was doing it (long story).
The business was in worse shape than I expected when I started, but as one of my owners said brilliantly “we have higher risk but higher reward”. The great thing was that the people were amazing and hugely capable - they just needed to believe in themselves again.
The CEO has a huge impact on the organisation - everything that you say or do goes like wild fire…..which for someone who is a little off-the-cuff can be a blessing and a curse!
Not letting people down and loyalty are two huge personal drivers/motivators for me. I’ve been lucky to have some great bosses, boards and owners who have believed in me and backed me - probably ahead of my capability. Because of that, I’ve worked really hard to repay their faith in me, by doing whatever it takes to deliver for them.
The role is full on - it’s 24/7. Every day a new challenge or opportunity comes up that surprises you and tries to distract you away from your plan. This has been a real challenge for someone who loves new ideas and loves to do everything all at once.
I’m still really surprised that I’m the CEO of such an incredible organisation today - I’m just waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say: “how the hell did you get this job?”
I believe that NZ is the greatest country on the planet. I want to ensure that future generations have the privilege of not just living here but also building amazing businesses and careers from here
Quick fire advice:
Never join a company where there is a values misalignment between you and your owners/board.
Spend a disproportionate amount of time with your customers, and your teams closest to your customers. They really know what is going well and not so well in the business.
Hire brilliant people that love working with each other, believe in them and empower them.
Always deliver your numbers. It gives you a lot of freedom.
Only work with people that you respect and have your back 100%
