Page 105 - KZN Top Business LEADERS-eBook

PAT MOODLEY

at Moodley is the regional manager for the AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH Pat continues that you should be able to direct and
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in conduct business through having a conversation.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The IDC is the largest Following his previous work experiences, Pat has Conversely, history or the likes in the corporate
Pdevelopment financing institution in South always been driven to be an effective leader. He world want you to be in command.
Africa and across the continent. explains that during his early career he encountered
many bad leadership styles and unpleasant habits, “We’re not in the army, you can be firm, but you
After completing his BCom accounting degree, Pat’s which were patterns of behaviour that he did not don’t have to be a dictator or have a forceful nature.
professional journey started off at Standard Bank. want to use to lead his team. Sometimes those challenges do crop up from time
He moved his way up the ranks and left the bank “I learnt from the poor leadership examples that I to time because people expect you to behave in
as a small medium enterprise manager to join the was exposed to and have improved on these. The that way as a leader,” he expanded.
IDC. Over the years, Pat has completed a number of scenario in the corporate world is changing. Back
leadership training programmes, including an MBA in the day, leadership was often like a dictatorship, For Pat interacting with people is a process and about
and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and it’s changed. I told myself that I won’t be like building a relationship. “It’s about sitting around the
Global Leadership course. table and saying this is what we can do. How do we
those leaders. I need to be a different type of leader find middle ground and see the end picture?”
Pat’s career with the IDC spans over 24 years. One of to ensure that I get the most out of my team and
his greatest wishes during this time is to extend the keep them motivated as well. Today, leadership is He commented, “I want to be me, do my work, but
reach of the IDC within KZN. about being part of that team, it’s not a top-down do it properly and correctly. Power provides a false
approach. It’s an inclusive approach and that’s how sense of respect. I still want to be a person in my own
SME DEVELOPMENT you get buy-in from your team and create a win- right when I leave the IDC and not be defined by my
win situation for everyone.” previous title.”
One of Pat’s key objectives in his role as a regional
manager is to ensure that the Small and Medium Pat is not motivated by external sources. He says, UNITY WITHIN COMMUNITY
Enterprise (SME) sector grows in KZN. The office he “I don’t benchmark myself against anyone. I set my While the province of KwaZulu-Natal has gone
leads forms part of the IDC’s Small Business Finance own standards and I deliver on those standards, through a number of strikes, unrest and flooding,
unit, and they consider all funding applications up which are at a very high level. You must be an Pat’s vision for the future is that everyone will come
to twenty million rands, from start to finish. Once individual and make a difference based on your together to form a public private partnership that
an application has been approved, the IDC then own motivation and your own contribution. I don’t will see the economy grow. In order for this to occur,
disburses that loan and through its partnership need to aspire to be someone else.” Pat believes that everyone needs to do away with
funding model, works together with the SME to He added that honesty, integrity and abiding the red tape.
ensure that the business continues to function by the rules are important to him. “I’m a rules
optimally and hopefully expand, creating much person but there must be flexibility, as long as “To see that growth in the economy, everyone has to
needed jobs within the province. play their part, from local government to provincial
you are within the parameters that have been
Commenting on his role Pat says, “I’m very passionate set. Being in the financial sector and funding in government, to large corporates to small businesses.
We have to club together with one vision if we want
about SME development, especially in my home particular, compliance, honesty and integrity is to see the growth in the economy and create jobs
province KZN. There’s lots of potential and impact the first consideration, you then jockey behind to counter unemployment and alleviate poverty.
in funding businesses. I think overall, my proudest the company.” Everyone needs to come together to make sure that
moment is funding businesses and seeing them A CONVERSATION we can fund businesses and we can use corporate
grow organically over a period of time. When I drive social investments to get the desired outcomes,
past any of our clients’ premises, I am proud to say Pat commented a major challenge is that some- grow the economy and contribute to the well-being
that these are businesses IDC has funded. Maybe times his humbleness can be mistaken as a of the community.”
in my old age or in my retirement, I will be able to weakness. He explains, “You don’t have to be
tell my grandkids there’s the business IDC funded forceful as a leader in the corporate world, but In conclusion, says Pat, “My motto in life is ‘your word
and from humble beginnings it has grown over the because you’re not forceful in your approach, must be your bond.’ If I can find that in a person or in
years to be a leading company in the province and the outside world does not take you seriously, a company, I’m all out there to support that company
the country.” that’s what I want to change.” or person.”
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