#1. Mohamed Mostafa is the founder and managing director of TechLabs London, the company behind iProperty Cloud, the housing management platform build on the Microsoft cloud. He has been recognised as a Microsoft MVP since 2016, a Microsoft FastTrack Solution Architect, and holds an MBA from Henley Business School.

KEY LESSONS

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In our discussion, Mohamed shared some invaluable insights and strategies on building a successful team and a thriving business culture. Here are three key takeaways:

1. Embrace Diversity in Hiring: Mohamed emphasized the importance of moving beyond hiring clones. A rich mix of backgrounds, experiences, and skills not only enriches the workplace but also significantly improves business delivery. He advocates for a hiring process blind to ethnicity, religion, and personal background, focusing instead on cultural fit and qualification.
2. Invest in Apprenticeships: TechLabs London places high value on apprenticeships, bringing in young recruits and training them in technology and consultancy. This approach not only nurtures talent but provides fresh perspectives. While apprentices often move on to other Microsoft partners, their contribution during their tenure is invaluable.
3. Foster a Dynamic Work Culture: TechLabs London has done away with strict hierarchies and promotes a fluid structure where employees can engage in multiple roles and projects. This "holacracy" structure, along with cross-departmental collaboration, ensures a vibrant work environment where innovation thrives.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 How hiring similar backgrounds limits diversity

00:31 Introduction to Practice Leading Podcast

03:24 Importance of people in consulting businesses

05:01 Creating a positive work environment

08:40 Implementing holacracy at TechLabs London

11:49 Benefits of diverse roles in teams

14:48 Innovative hiring strategies

17:15 Hiring industry experts and apprentices

20:23 Challenges and benefits of hiring apprentices

23:06 Strategies for unbiased recruitment

30:23 Gathering industry expertise for product development

36:19 Mohamed's key interview question for cultural fit

RESOURCES

• TechLabs London website
• TechLabs London on LinkedIn
• iProperty Cloud website
• Mohamed Mostafa on LinkedIn
• Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace by Ricardo Semler
• Holacracy: The New Management System for a Rapidly Changing World by Brian J. Robertson