Training future leaders is essential for any company that wishes to thrive, and that policy forms the bedrock of the constant learning culture of high-end automotive finance provider JBR Capital, as company CEO Nayan V. Kisnadwala explains.
“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.” That quote is frequently attributed to the man who brought mobility to the American middle classes with his Model T – Henry Ford. Whether he said it or not may be a moot point, but the sentiments it expresses are as relevant today as they were when the first ‘Tin Lizzy’ came shimmying out of Ford’s Piquette Avenue Plant in 1908.
In some ways, they are not thoughts that we spend too much time pondering here at JBR Capital. We have always believed in investing in training and developing our people. Of course, if you have a policy of nurturing your next CEO in-house, you run the risk that they will go off and become someone else’s next CEO instead. But if you stop your people from growing, then you cannot expect your company to keep growing.
Occasionally, people are described as natural leaders, and at JBR Capital, we believe that leaders are built, not born and that everyone can benefit greatly from good leadership training. After all, people are usually promoted because they are good at delivering on their job – leading a team of colleagues is a very different proposition to that. So, while constant learning and leadership training initiatives form the bedrock of our culture at JBR Capital, we also recognise the value of engaging the services of professional leadership specialists.
That’s why we work with Janet and Martin Cropper, Founder and CEO of NoLimits respectively who specialise in leadership development and cultural transformation. We’ll hear from Martin and Janet shortly on the benefits of these skills and from JBR Capital’s Simona Germanaviciute, who has recently had the benefit of NoLimit’s guidance. Moving from her home in Lithuania to London, Simona joined JBR Capital as a client services executive in 2019. Promoted first to Senior Client Services Executive and then Team Leader, Simona became Head of Client Services in 2022 to lead a department of twelve and personifies JBR Capital’s culture of investing in our people as well as our product.
Henry Ford’s investment in developing his people alongside his product led to the former farm boy watching the 15 millionth car to bear his name leave the company’s then state-of-the-art Highland Park plant in 1927. Sure, he might have lost people along the way who went on to bigger and better things because of the training he provided. And no doubt that will happen to us at JBR Capital too. But they will always remain our friends, and hopefully, some of them will even become customers and come back and finance their dream supercar with us.
Martin Cropper, CEO, NoLimits:
“In today’s fast-paced business environment, successful leadership is crucial for an organsation to grow and thrive. To address this need, we recently facilitated a comprehensive Senior Leadership Team Development and Group Coaching Program designed to empower JBR’s leaders with critical skills for enhancing team performance and engagement. The primary objectives were to foster and develop a culture of safety and open communication; a powerful feedback seeking and coaching environment; , and to empower JBR’s leaders with the essential skills to lead challenging conversations with confidence.”
Janet Cropper, Founder, NoLimits:
“We also focussed on the need for leaders to show empathy with their team members and the requirement for adaptable leadership skills. For the best results, a leader must be able to put themselves in their colleague’s shoes to cater to the needs of individual team members by deploying the principles of ‘Flexible Leadership.’ This enables the leader to provide the appropriate support and guidance based on each team member’s level of competence and commitment. This is particularly relevant at JBR Capital, given the remarkably strong mix of colleagues from different cultures and backgrounds from all over the world that the company enjoys.”
Martin Cropper, CEO, NoLimits:
“Of course, coaching only works if people are open-minded, willing, and eager to learn, and fortunately, that has been very much the case with everyone that we have worked with at JBR Capital.”
Simona Germanaviciute, Head of Client Services, JBR Capital:
“You might be the best specialist, but that does not necessarily mean you will be the best manager. Being a leader requires a very different skill set. The leadership program helped all the senior leaders gain crucial management skills, which will prove invaluable to guiding everyone on their personal leadership journey.
Since joining JBR Capital, I have always felt fortunate to be part of an organisation that places such a strong emphasis on learning and development. If you put the work in, you can progress your career quickly. I have learnt a lot in the four years I have been with JBR Capital, and attending the program with Janet and Martin has brought an additional dimension to that learning and to my confidence.”
Lana Poleon, HR Manager, JBR Capital:
“Our Role Model Leadership Program at JBR Capital has transformed our leadership culture by providing valuable insights and experiences for our leaders. The program has helped develop adaptable leadership styles, effective coaching techniques, and the ability to navigate challenging conversations with confidence. We are proud of the program’s impact on JBR’s culture and employee engagement, and we remain committed to investing in our leaders’ development.”
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