Use technology to export our services

AFLOAT: Xero CEO Rod Drury says for Hawke's Bay to thrive it needs to use technology to better export our products and new services. PHOTO/FILE

Hawke's Bay Today is running a series of questions and answers from Hawke's Bay business leaders over the holiday period. Today's leader is Xero CEO Rod Drury.
Where did it all start for you?

For me I got turned onto the excitement and infinite possibilities of computers back at Napier Boys' High School. We had a fantastic teacher, Bob McCaw, who brought computers into the school and ignited that passion for technology.

What is the best advice you ever received?

What I've learnt is you need to make things happen yourself. Make that phone call, get started, take the first step on the journey. Ideas are easy - execution is what matters.

What was a major breakthrough?

Taking Xero public in our first year gave us the capital and profile to build a truly global business. Lots of work since then but that's what set us up to become a multibillion dollar company we are today. And it is still early days.

What goals have you for your business or yourself for 2016?

Having our global teams in place, so I travel less and can spend more time in the Bay, is right up there.

What needs to change in Hawke's Bay for better growth?

I was in Napa Valley last week at a conference and the whole time I was thinking how much cooler, beautiful and more natural Hawke's Bay is. We truly live in a special place, but to thrive we need to grow and that means using technology to export our products and now services. If we create location independent jobs then the Bay lifestyle is the prize. All business people should be thinking about how they export and pull money and jobs into the region. We live in a global world with massive opportunities.