Hey, So: Peter Grant

Hey! So, who are you? Give us a little intro.

I’m Peter Grant, President of OakNorth and proud board member at Haysto.

I’ve spent 25 years working at Tier 1 enterprise software companies. I’m a terrible golfer, father of two, and happily married to Inna living in Sausalito, California.

What made you want to join the Haysto board?

I’m a huge fan of Jonny [Haysto CEO and Co-Founder] and his story to set up Haysto. Knowing him well, I was convinced he would make Haysto successful. He has a great internal engine and moral compass. The Haysto mission has many similarities to OakNorth and I thought my experience would lend itself well. 

How important do you think human decision making is for an increasingly tech-focused world?

Humans work well on complex problem solving and applying logic. Machines are excellent at scanning huge amounts of data, finding patterns and surfacing insights to humans to help them make better decisions. 

In a regulated industry, a glass box approach to how decisions are made is paramount. The purpose of using technology in the underwriting process is to ensure all data has been considered and speeding up the decision making process in a more efficient manner.  Underwrite faster, smarter, and do more deals. 

What’s your personal goal for this year?

My personal goal is to get my golf handicap into single digits! 

What advice would you give to financial businesses and professionals who are just starting out?

Surround yourself with exceptional people, then inspire them to achieve more than they thought they could. Get them involved in defining a compelling vision and the associated execution plan to make that vision become a reality. Hiring bright people and just telling them what to do is stupid!

With a shared vision, driven by inspired, motivated and talented people, you can reach for the stars. Plus, it’s a lot of fun. Stagnant growth or downsizing businesses attracts a different type of character. The result is a lot less rewarding.

Put customer success at the centre of your vision. Celebrate their success and go the extra mile to solve their problems. Happy customers will always do three things for you: buy more from you, recommend you to others, and buy again, should they change jobs.

Take a strong interest in the careers of your talented people. Take the time to plan and enable their development. We all remember those who opened doors for our careers  as a leader, be one of them.

Certify your people, including yourself! Create a constant learning culture, which requires everyone to learn and understand your latest products, positioning and customer success stories. It still amazes me how many employees have so little knowledge of what their company’s products and services do and how they truly benefit their customers.

If you could make one impossible thing possible, what would it be?

The ability to create peaceful resolutions. In light of what’s happening right now in the world, I’d like to go back in time and stop wars from starting. 

At Haysto, we're growing fast. We're planning to double headcount in the next six months, and we're always looking for people who want to do things differently. View our careers page.