The essentials with Rupert Thomas: leader of year?

A sneak peak at who's in the running to be Marketing Leader of The Year 2014 - we interview Rupert Thomas, marketing director, Waitrose.

What’s the smartest business idea you’ve had?
Launching essential Waitrose.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Obsess about listening and acting on what your customers tell you. But then trust your instincts.

What does bold marketing leadership look like?
Being brave in your actions and worry only about the impact and results.

What is the biggest challenge facing the marketing industry over the next year?
The fragmentation of media consumption and how best to manage your interactions with your customers.

What one thing would improve your life?
My life feels very complete!

How do you achieve a work-life balance?
I don't worry about it. If you enjoy your job, you can manage the ebbs and flows of your work/life balance.

What would you say to your 17-year-old self?
Your career is a marathon and not a sprint and spend as much time on relationships as on learning the technical requirements of the job. But above all, 'be yourself, as everybody else is already taken.' Oscar Wilde.

Who or what has inspired you most profoundly in your career?
The Partners I come into daily contact with. The people I work with are a constant source of inspiration.

What's the hardest thing you've ever done and what did you learn from it?
During my time in commercial buying, forecasting how many strawberries to buy and realising on the 23rd of December, I had under-bought - which led to us arranging numerous local deliveries to branches to ensure we didn't disappoint customers. Lesson: fortune favours the bold!

If you hadn't been in business what would you have been?
I once harboured an ambition to be a dentist.

Tell us a secret.
It wouldn't be one, then...!

Marketing Leader of Year 2014: voting now closed
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