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Malta Business Review
SPECIAL PULL-AND-KEEP SUPPLEMENT:
MALTA'S BEST ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2017
Delivering Excellence
Special
Feature
MBEOTYA 2017
Special
Feature
MBEOTYA 2017
SPECIAL FEATURE: MBEOTYA 2017
Malta Business Review
Global Tech Managing
Director Neal Azzopardi
sat with MBR to
explain how the
company has become
an independent
and economically
empowered multiservice
company
specialising in energy,
fire and security
solutions and
engineering services,
comprising also in
general procurements.
Global Tech Managing Director Neal Azzopardi
MBR: Was technology and solar energy
something you had wanted to do or was
it just the easiest option open to you to
embark in this sector?
NA: My first experience as an entrepreneur
was in a completely different sector; my
natural choice was catering. Embarking on
this venture actually came by accident and it
started off with me extending a helping hand
to an old friend. I never imagined that I would
venture in this sector but it was a challenge
that gradually hauled me in. The projects
we get entrusted with have that special thrill
about them that keeps you coming for more.
MBR: What was it about you personally and
professionally that made you take the next
step, one that many entrepreneurs think
about but never follow?
NA: I have always ranked amongst the high
achievers when I was an employee with other
Fear is what stands between a
man and his dreams, so I stare
fear in the face and I take the
plunge
companies. My mother always said that I was
born business minded and I think that same
instinct made me reason that if I can do so
well for others, I can probably do even better
for myself. Personally, I believe that fear is
what stands between a man and his dreams,
so I stare fear in the face and I take the plunge.
MBR: What makes Global Tech a different
proposition from other players tackling this
space?
NA: What I believe sets Global Tech apart
from the rest, is the way we present ourselves.
Coming from a catering background I am very
adamant on presentation. Secondly, but not
less important, is seeing things through with
attention to service and detail. I stress a lot on
delivering excellence to our clients, whoever
they are. Last but not least, are the brands
we have partnered with. Being entrusted by
leading global brands such as LG is an honour
that helps us level the playing field with our
competitors and more often than not we
manage to exceed expectations.
MBR: What difficulties with setting up a
business in Malta surprised you most and
what problems do you still face today?
NA: Setting up the business is an easy task
compared to the rest, the trick lies in running
the business and doing so successfully. The
employees are the pillars to a successful
business and I believe that the most
challenging aspect every entrepreneur faces
is finding and keeping the right talent. You
have a baby and you trust it in the hands of
your employees, so you must choose well and
you need to constantly invest in your people
so that they are happy enough to share your
dream; to stay and grow with you.
MBR: Has the way sales is taught changed
over the years? How would you describe
the methods used today?
NA: Sales techniques are in a constant state
of flux, they are always evolving to meet the
demands of consumers. In a market where
social media has become such a dominant
medium of communication, we have seen the
rise of the social media salesperson. A huge
chunk of sales are nowadays generated online
with the general likelihood of closing a sale
through a Facebook chat following a series of
online interactions through posts and blogs.
Regardless of this phenomenon, we still
believe in the power of human contact and
we always strive to make ourselves available
to meet people in the comfort of their homes
and offices.
MBR: What are some of the most important
aspects of the company’s culture at the
moment?
NA: Our company culture is driven by our
values, which are passion, determination,
positive attitude, family spirit, delivering
excellence, adopting a professional
approach, pursuing lasting relationships and
transparency. Our passion, determination
and positive attitude together with our aim of
delivering excellence are the most important
facet of our culture at the moment as these
keep us abreast of the numerous challenges
that a business growing at a fast pace is faced
with on a day to day basis.
MBR: How important is that social element
in keeping people going, keeping them
participating, helping with those full
participation rates?
NA: Having built a company with a family
spirit, naturally fosters a sense of belonging.
We spend 80% of our time together and we
relate to each other just like a family does.
We work hard, we have a good laugh, we
argue and we support each other through
rough times be it a personal or a professional
Our passion, determination
and positive attitude together
with our aim of delivering
excellence are the most
important facet of our culture
struggle. The social element here is the sense
of belonging to this ‘extended family’ with
one common goal; fighting for the same goal
is second nature to us.
MBR: What does the future hold for you
and your aspirations?
NA: Our motto is “the sky is the limit”. We
aspire to become one of the key players in
the local market with Europe on the horizon.
Our goal is to open branches around Europe,
a goal that we are actively pursuing since
we have recently opened our first overseas
branch in Montenegro.
MBR: How do you decide where you want
to focus your philanthropic efforts?
NA: Deciding who you are going to help is not
an easy decision. There’s a lot to take into
consideration and one would always like to do
more than they actually can. We try to focus
our resources on who needs it more and
where we hope it will make most fruition. We
are currently working on an important project
for a leading NGO, the nature of which we
cannot yet reveal and to which we are very
proud contributors. MBR
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