Unlike more rigid networking groups, WBG aims to encourage referrals through trust in the expertise of it’s members in their respective fields. A WBG member will happily point a contact at a fellow member because they know that the contact will be in good hands.
In order to foster such trust, members are encouraged to go beyond providing references. One such approach taken by a number of members, including former Chair Bob Morgan this week, is to recount their work (and often personal) journey to their current position.
Bob’s journey is very interesting, growing up in Blackheath and starting out his work life as a copier engineer for Canon. With a short break from them to try other work opportunities, including being a store detective, he returned to Canon, rising through the engineering ranks until he was heading a large team responsible for the earliest colour laser printers.
Redundancy led Bob to self-employment, opening up a print shop in Maidstone which evolved into a larger print operation based in Ashford. However, the travel bug bit, leading Bob and his young family to move to Spain for a couple of years, where he was involved in selling property to ex-pats. Family issues meant a return to the UK was necessary, though, and rather than disrupt things again, they resolved to stay at least until their kids were happily settled in their own places.
On his return Bob was asked to join IT Planning to help grow the company, and 18 years later it has developed into a thriving Microsoft Partner, helping many local businesses with their internal networks.
