ENTREPRENEUR
Tell us more about Novacroft and what motivated you to start this venture? Novacroft is a smartcard programme and software solution company, which I founded in 1998 after working for the likes of Apple and Westinghouse, where I fell in love with the tech world.
The internet was just taking off and I saw how it could be used to give stakeholders transparency across their projects. There seemed to be particular potential in the transport industry. I kept the idea for an online database in my back pocket for a while and then, when my parents passed away and I realised that the only barriers in life were the ones I’d made for myself, I knew it was time to turn it into reality.
Today we work with public, private and third sector clients, including Transport for London on their concessionary Oys- ter photocard schemes, to help them simplify complexity and achieve efficiencies through innovation and technology.
We’ve also recently founded a social action programme, called Ucan-do-it, which helps organisations across all sectors recog- nise and reward their customers, volunteers and team members for all the positive things they do, whether that’s using public transport, recycling, keeping fit or donating their time to charity.
Do you think the subject of Dyslexia is understood by employ- ers?
No, I don’t think it’s really on an employer’s radar. I’ve noticed that my team are far more transparent about the subject and that means we can provide support where it’s needed.
When did you first discover you were Dyslexic? I was only 10 or 11 years old, so already half way through my school career. It was very difficult at that stage in my life but in hindsight it’s made me a stronger person and given me opportu- nities that I wouldn’t otherwise have had.
Do you consider Dyslexia to be a disability and has it hindered your professional career in anyway?
The opposite – I think having dyslexia has helped me be a stron- ger, more confident person and given me a helicopter perspec- tive of the world, which means I see problems and solutions in a different way to others. I use mind maps, illustrations and charts both in my thinking and when explaining my ideas because, for me, these are far clearer than words on a page.
I was never given much of a chance at school due to my dyslexia and as I got older and started working I wanted to show people what I could do. I often feel I wouldn’t have set up my own busi- ness if I wasn’t so determined to beat the challenge of dyslexia.
• ENTREPRENEUR • 41
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