In 2005, I became the first chief executive of the world’s largest alpaca livestock association, but I didn’t even know what an alpaca was.
The association had existed for many years, but until then, it was managed by an external association management company that reported to the board. A year before my appointment, a new vendor took over but failed to handle the transaction volume, leading to significant issues.
Recognizing the need for change, the board decided to establish their own office. They hired an interim chief executive, who ultimately found me.
Before my interview, I had to look up what an alpaca was. I knew that they were “like” a llama, but that was about it! I was upfront about my lack of industry knowledge with each person I interviewed with.
I was repeatedly told that what mattered more to the board was my ability to start, run, and grow a successful business. They believed that industry-specific knowledge could be taught more easily than business acumen and I was eventually hired.
Because of the state that the outsource vendor had left things, we had a lot to fix, not just with customer transactions, but with our brand. We had to do that, while starting a business from scratch and building everything necessary to make that organization run.
This involved hiring a full staff, securing office space, purchasing equipment and servers, selecting software, conducting training, creating processes, and developing benefits programs. I worked 60-80 hour weeks, driven by my passion for building and fixing things; and I loved it!
My experience as a retail manager, years before, prepared me for the demands, and I thrived in this role. Within a few years, we doubled our transaction volume with the same staff, thanks to scalable systems and processes. The business grew, I learned the industry, and eventually I became an internationally sought-after speaker in the industry.
My story highlights the importance of taking a leap of faith in hiring the right person at the right time. Despite not knowing what an alpaca was, I was the right fit for the organization, at the right time.
So, if you are a hiring manager hesitant about hiring someone without industry experience, consider if that’s truly what you need. If you’re seeking your next role, don’t doubt yourself. Your next significant success might be in an unexpected field. Trust in your abilities and what you bring to the table.
If you’re interested in learning more about me and my organization, check out my website at: https://lnkd.in/dgfjyMca
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Attended TIT College, Anand Nagar, PB No. 24, Post Piplani, BHEL, Bhopal - 462021
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