Business Focus

We have once again been chosen as one of the best places to work, ranking number 7 on a list where more than 120 companies applied. In this episode, we speak with Neil Smith, our Chief People Officer, who guides us through the characteristics that have made us a great workplace. He discusses how we care for our people and the processes that ensure we have the best professionals in the industry. Jo...

Learn what it truly takes to become a CEO: In this Business Focus episode, we're exploring the mindset and strategies required to think like a CEO and build a successful business. Join us as we chat with seasoned CEO Ross Sardi, who shares his journey from state manager to the helm of a leading Managed IT Services company. Ross provides invaluable insights on what it means to be an effective l...

In this impromptu episode, we look into the recent CrowdStrike update that led to a massive global IT outage, affecting millions of Windows devices. Join us as we discuss: - The timeline of events on the day of the outage - How a faulty update from CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions - The immediate and long-term impacts on businesses and essential services - CrowdStrike's response and t...

In recognition of Diabetes Week, we are honoured to have Ross Sardi, CEO of First Focus and a type 1 diabetes patient, join us for a special episode. Ross shares his personal journey with diabetes and discusses the cutting-edge technology he uses to manage his condition and enhance his quality of life. Discover the tools that help him maintain control and live a healthier, more balanced life. Join...

AI has sparked much controversy; it has been introduced into our daily lives but its use has been limited to certain personal tasks. Our Head of Technology has designed a bot that assists in the onboarding process. In this episode, we chat with him to discuss how he created it and what his vision is for the current and near-future landscape of AI. We also tested the bot live!

Every business will run an IT project at some point, and if you're the project owner, you'll want to do all you can to make sure it's delivered on time and on budget. In this episode, Mia draws from her 10+ years of experience to share 5 essential tips that ensure IT project success. These tips are specifically designed for those in roles other than IT Manager. Whether you're a pro...

Are you constantly feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day? In this episode, we tackle the art of managing your time, focussing your attention and making effective decisions. Join us as we explore practical tactics to help you align your daily choices with your personal and professional goals. Key Takeaways: • Time is a universal currency; manage your attention and choices wisel...

Ever read Sapiens? If so, you know that stories are the glue that has made human excellence possible; those who know how to craft stories in order to communicate effectively have an advantage. This is a skill that can be developed, and there are structures that can help you do just that. Great communication starts with a plan, and relies on effective delivery. Ron Schwartz is an expert in the fiel...

Whether buying or selling, when involved in a merger or acquisition you want to maximise your outcome. In this episode we will draw on Ross Sardi’s extensive experience in the M&A field to tell you how to drive up enterprise value, structure your deal, and nail the integration.

In the world of business, driving profitability hinges on three key factors: price, volume, and cost. While pricing often receives the least strategic attention, it's important for long-term success. In this episode we’re joined by pricing expert Ron Wood. Through his consultancy firm The Pricing Insight, Ron has empowered countless businesses to boost their profitability with a systematic, va...

We’ve seen it done well, and we’ve seen it done very badly. Phil Barton, Chief Customer Officer at First Focus, has 20+ years of experience in IT procurement, and he is going to help you save time and money for your business by learning from the mistakes he’s seen. This week he joins Brendan, taking a vendor agnostic approach to talk about how businesses with 50-200 staff should go to market for I...

Culture, everyone talks about, but what is it? And how do you know when yours is in need of an upgrade? Hiam Sakakini set up the Culture Equation to help businesses establish and maintain award winning cultures, and this week she joins Brendan Ritchie, Chief Growth Officer at First Focus, to tell you what it takes to make that happen in your business, and how it will improve your business’ financi...

Offshoring has transformed from a cost-saving tactic to a strategic solution for overcoming the global skills shortage. Businesses, facing talent scarcity, are increasingly turning to countries like the Philippines, where the workforce offers not only cost advantages but also a rich pool of skills. This shift towards offshoring reflects a broader strategy to leverage global talent, ensuring compan...

Whatever your industry, however you work, you handle data.   Data is great, it’s essential, but it is also a huge risk if not kept confidential, kept intact, and if it’s not available in a form you can use.  All businesses that handle any form of data, digital or not, should care about the CIA Triad concept. The principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability are fundamental to protecti...

With the news from Microsoft that Copilot is now universally available, it is a great time to do a deep dive into the features and real world applications of this tech. In this very first episode of Business Focus, Mia Tait, the Microsoft 365 Practice Lead at First Focus, joins Brendan to talk all things Microsoft Copilot, covering the recent changes to licensing availability and costs, the featur...