Proust Questionnaire: Chris Gunning, Unisys

SSON: Who do you look up to in business and why? Chris Gunning: My former boss and mentor, Thomas McGlinn, who passionately lived and breathed Shared Services right from the beginning in mid 1990s, embracing young and youthful cultures around the world, and always looking to challenge the norm. A true risk junkie and tight-rope-walker! The man brought out inspiration in me at all times, which is why I am still working in this fascinating industry today! SSON: What has been your greatest achievement? CG: There have been many – but I think having built from nothing, then nurtured and lovingly watched over, our Bangalore SSC Finance footprint, and seeing it blossom into a truly world class global service team over the last 5 years… that does stand out as a memorable highlight. SSON: What is your greatest regret? CG:It’s part of the natural evolution I guess, but with globalization and offshoring, there are always some who get left behind, and my heart always goes out to them on a personal level. Having to dismantle large, and, more often than not, successful organizations is never a happy or easy task. SSON: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? CG:I am happy with the journey we have taken and the path we have chosen. I’m not sure I would want to meddle or mess with too much or too many of the choices we made along the way! SSON: What looks like the biggest potential for you right now? CG:I think in general in the industry there is huge scope to move more into the Shared Services space. Not just Finance, but also other parts of the business, and drive real value in terms of execution, quality, service delivery, cost, and customer satisfaction… and leverage the skills and experience we have built up over the past years. And that is not just me personally. I think there are many great leaders and managers in our industry who could transform companies and help take them to the next level. Not only do they have strong operational knowledge, but they are great in handling relationships, service delivery, compliance, control, and, most importantly, running process. SSON: What is your favorite occupation? CG:Work-wise, it’s the joy of working with our passionate global teams of employees and customers around the world: Asia Pacific at breakfast; India through the morning coffee break; Europe through lunch; and then the US and Latin America through the end of the day! So many different cultures, religions, creeds, backgrounds, genders and beliefs -- all pulling in the same direction. But my real favorite occupation these days is being a dad to baby Cara Pixie, who just turned 1 year old! I can’t help but have the biggest smile on my face when I get home from the office, and see her each evening. SSON: In 10 years time - how do you see your current operation being run? CG: Ha! A very good question! Most likely, very differently. I think we are going to see even more significant advancements in technology and automation in the years ahead, which will mean ever-smaller finance operations than we see today, or have traditionally seen in the past. SSON: Which management books do you read? CG: Not as many as I should! I tend to dip in and out of blogs and websites these days, rather than try and digest an entire book. It was never really my thing. (Can I say that!?) I recently completed an 18-month Leadership program at INSEAD, and to be honest, snippets of various sources were more than enough for me, rather than trying to read something cover to cover. I see Leadership and Management as more of an art and not a science; anyone with a bit of cop-on and the ability to build relationships can succeed. I know of many great managers who have not opened a book since college! Maybe the odd comic or magazine, but definitely not a book! Maybe I need to write one of my own, one of these days! SSON: Who are your favorite writers? CG: In light of the above comment, I have got to say it is Colin Bateman. Hilarious, black comedy and from Norn Iron! Go check him out! SSON: What car do you drive and what should you be driving? I don’t! Like all other Amsterdammers I have my trusty knackered old city bicycle. Green all the way for me, baby! Much better for the environment than a gas guzzler! For those of you attending the SSON Event at the Rai in May, you might even be able to see me arrive on it, as the venue is only a five-minute bike ride from home! SSON: What's your favorite 10 minute dish that you cook yourself? CG: As a vegetarian, I guess it’s got to be my famous Veggie Spag Bol (and no, you’re not all invited to pop ‘round to my place, post SSON Week Conference, to try it!). But I could easily live on pizza and red wine for weeks on end, if my gorgeous girlfriend Claire wasn’t such a great veggie cook! I think in truth, she’d like to see more of famous Veggie Spag Bol than she has, in recent years! SSON: Tell us about a behavioral trait we should expect of you. CG: I’m Honest, Open, Energetic and Friendly. Is that one or more than one?! I tell it like it is. See no BS; Hear no BS. Speak no BS! SSON: Reveal one weird thing we don't know about you... CG: Mmmmmm! Interesting! I’m a heavy metal kid at heart. ! Yip, a real head-banger! It’s in my blood. I can never get enough metal! The louder, the faster, the heavier, the better! I’m not afraid to get stuck into mosh pits or circle pits down the front of a gig or festival -- and I go to many (I can imagine lots of folks tapping on Wikipedia now: what the heck are those??!). See you down the front! SSON: If you had one question to put to your peers, what would it be? CG: "Can I steal one of yours?!" – and that would be in response to their answer to: "In 10 years time - how do you see your current operation being run?" I would love a crystal ball on that one. I guess if we all knew the answer to that, the next ten years might be less interesting for all of us, whether provider-, buy- or sell-side! SSON: Which historical figure do you most identify with? CG: It’s not exactly far back in history, but I guess it might be Martin O Neill (or indeed his young protêgêe, Neil Lennon, both of whom are also from the North of Ireland, like myself) as manager of Glasgow Celtic Football Club (or indeed any other club he has been at). Constantly jumping up and down passionately on the touchline, getting behind the team, always able to drive real team spirit, looking to win and succeed, and refusing to lie down – no matter what the cost. It’s the emotion and passion and excitement I get too when working with our teams in this industry. Sometimes it’s uncontrollable, but it always comes from the heart! Always fun and exciting! SSON: If your job requires a lot of traveling - what is your favorite journey? CG:The next new destination that I have not been to yet will be my next favorite! I just love traveling. Always have. Always will No two places in the world are alike. There is so much of it I have been lucky enough to see. And there is so much of it still to see. I get such a buzz from each new place. In 2010, underwater at the Great Barrier Reef in Oz; the scenic Fjords in Norway; the great open plains of North Dakota; and the hustle and bustle of Sao Paulo were just some new highlights in my well-stamped passport, photograph album and memory bank. I am sure 2011 will bring even more! SSON: What is the quality you most like in men? CG: Our ability to turn a game of football (or soccer!) into what seems like the most important thing in the world, and bring out the excited child in each and every one of us! As Bill Shankly once said: "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." What a crazy gender we are… but don’t we just love it!!! SSON: What is the quality you most like in women? CG: Them all! Do women actually have qualities that you are not meant to like?! SSON:What would you like your legacy to be? CG: Apart from of course hoping to be a great dad and inspiration to wee baby Cara in the years ahead, I guess I would like to be remembered as that loud, energetic North Irish man who traveled the world, leaving memorable impressions in far-off places. Hopefully, I have been able to bring some joy and happiness to some employees’ families, as well as opportunities in career enrichment for the young employees themselves, especially in new and developing economies and locations around the world. If even just one person stops and thinks about me in that way in, say, 50 years time -- and takes a moment to raise a pint of Guinness in memory -- then I’d be happy with that! Slainte! [inlinead]

Proust Questionnaire: Chris Gunning, Unisys

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