Hanif Lalani is a United Kingdom-based entrepreneur, business leader and advisor with three decades of experience in finance and telecommunications. He has held a number of executive-level positions within British multinational companies. He has been named “Finance Director of the Year” by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and was listed as number 30 on the Institute of Asian Professionals’ “Muslim Power 100.” He is currently serving as an advisor to mobile network operators and on high-speed internet initiatives in Central Asia.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company.
My career actually differs greatly from what I believe many young peoples’ look like today. After graduating university I took a position as a graduate trainee at a company and ended up remaining with them for almost thirty years. My family and I immigrated to the United Kingdom from Uganda when I was ten years old, and I believe that is what gave me the “chip on my shoulder” and desire to prove myself in business. I worked hard at every position I was given in the organization, and ended up holding some of the highest senior-level positions in the company.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
- First and foremost, you must be a stellar communicator. Any and every leader needs to learn how to effectively get across what is needed from their team, but an entrepreneur goes one step further – you have to be able to effectively communicate your vision.
- Secondly, you need to have a strong grasp on finances. Running out of money is a small business’s biggest risk, and when it’s your business that you have invested a significant amount of personal time and capital into, you better know how to manage it.
- Last, I would say you need spirit – entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint-hearted, and you need that inner drive in order to keep your head above water through all of the challenges.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
I believe that the best way to distinguish yourself from competitors is to show how you add value in a way that no other company does. Look at your company’s purpose and mission statement: do they accurately reflect how the business contributes in a positive way to the world at large? If not, I would highly recommend giving them another look. A strong purpose and mission statement can not only tell consumers why they should choose you over your competitors, but also build a stronger organization with a motivated team of workers who understand why they are coming in to work each day.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
Generally my move to England, and assimilating to its culture. I can still remember the fear I felt as we left Uganda, and continued to feel each day as I tried new foods, met new people and tried to adapt to a new curriculum. Thankfully I had been a keen sportsman in Uganda, and that helped me make connections in the United Kingdom. At such a pivotal moment in my life, I would certainly call it my biggest challenge, but also what instilled in me a drive that led to my later successes.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
In my work for a private shareholder who owns assets in the mobile space, I have traveled to many new countries where I have been introduced to cultures and experiences unlike any I’ve had before. Every day I learn more about the digital divide, and just how necessary high-speed internet access has become in order to thrive in the modern world. While I loved my career working as an executive, I feel so much more fulfillment taking the knowledge and skills I developed and applying them in ways that can make a difference in the world.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Multitasking is a myth, don’t fall into its trap. Whatever you are working on, commit to it and give it your full attention. There are a million different hacks out there all purporting to increase your productivity, but I truly believe it is as simple as learning to focus on what is in front of you and now allow any external distractions to creep in. This means not checking your email, answering a text, or browsing the internet. If you give your undivided attention to one thing, I guarantee you will be able to do more of them in a day than you ever thought possible.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
- The book I recommend is Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. It is a brilliant exploration of leading a team, and concludes that great leaders are those that put the good of those they lead above themselves. It is only through trust and cooperation that a team, and by extension an organization, can truly thrive.
- Secondly, I’m not big on podcasts but I highly recommend the TED Talk “The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding” by the basketball coach John Wooden. It’s a wonderful reminder that ultimately the greatest game we play is our own personal one, and we should always be pursuing the best in ourselves.
- Finally, for someone who is working on bringing connectivity to others I am decidedly old school: I do not have any online courses I recommend. Instead, I would advise that whether an entrepreneur has been to business school or not they should look into auditing an introductory course to economics from a university. During my own first year in university it was my professor’s passion for the subject that helped me understand how finance and business could be so much more than just a career.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
Honestly, whenever I start to feel unmotivated or stagnant, I think about my parents and their flight with my family from the dictatorial regime in Uganda in my childhood. The bravery it took to leave everything we have ever known behind in the middle of the night with nothing more than a single suitcase full of possessions for all of us – when I contemplate that, I realize that really my problems and business challenges are not so big. Drive and motivation come from within, so my advice to others would be to find that thing that inspires you to keep going, whether it be your chosen profession or a higher purpose, and keep it in the forefront of your mind.
What is your favorite quote?
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
– Gandhi
The world and the people in it are beautiful, and we must work to bring innovation and prosperity to new areas of the globe. For me, that involves using my knowledge of the telecommunications sector to correct disparities in high-speed internet access, which are widening poverty gaps in both emerging and developed countries. However, my hope is that in general the trend toward more sustainable business practices will continue. Businesses should make an effort to consider their stakeholders (their customers, the environment, the communities they do business in) rather than just their shareholders and profits.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
I received an honorary doctorate, and I will tell you what I told them: if you work hard and deliver results, people will take notice. You have to work hard to get what you need and work even harder to get what you want, but it is that perseverance and drive that will see you through every difficulty the business world throws at you. Entrepreneurs are the trailblazers, the ones who see a problem in the world and decide to do something about it, but by applying yourself with determination and grit I believe you can create any life for yourself you want.
What is your definition of success?
Moving from our beautiful family home in Uganda to a council house in Yorkshire made for one of the most difficult periods of my life. In addition to leaving the only home I had ever known and much of our prosperity along with it, I found myself in a new culture, at a new school, and more lost than I had ever felt before. However, my parents told me to see the challenges as an opportunity to grow, and that is a lesson I have carried with me through every difficult period in my life. To me, that is the definition of success: when you develop the ability to view problems in your life as a resource for growth rather than an insurmountable obstacle.
How do you personally overcome fear?
I am no stranger to fear – I believe that if you have not experienced fear in your life you have not truly pushed yourself. In my opinion, the best way to overcome fear is to run toward it. The things that scare you are probably the things that will be best for your overall growth. Maintaining that mindset is how I manage my fear and use it as a tool to better myself.
