David Schluter, founder of Fluid IT, shares his journey from his early life influences to founding his company and the challenges he faced along the way. He discusses the importance of mental health and his experience with burnout, as well as the impact of hiring people from challenging backgrounds. He also highlights the role of Lord Evans, former head of MI5, on his advisory board. In this conversation, David shares his experiences of running a business as a vehicle for change. He discusses the journey of one of his employees, Gary, who overcame significant challenges to become an exceptional manager. David emphasizes the importance of taking a chance on people and how they can pay you back in unexpected ways. He also highlights the joy and freedom of doing business differently, focusing on kindness and cultural development. David believes that business should bring life and positive impact throughout the entire journey, not just at the end. He advocates for treating people generously and embracing slow business as the way forward.

Key Takeaways

• Reflecting on your journey and finding your reason for continuing is important in business.
• Creating a supportive work environment where people can bring their authentic selves is powerful.
• Hiring people from challenging backgrounds can provide opportunities for growth and transformation.
• Having an advisory board with diverse perspectives can provide valuable insights and accountability.

David on linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dschluter/

Visit: https://www.fluid-it.com/

Rob on linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-warren/

Host: Rob Fawkes

Producer: Lukas Blasberg