Thanks Harry!

I reference quite regularly through the work that I do these days that I first cut my teeth in Red Bull. I often describe it as "not the Red Bull you see these days, but rather a small intimate company; 100-or-so impressionable twenty-something's led by some industry heavyweights all set upon changing the drinks industry up." Well I learnt over the weekend that the 'titan' that oversaw the company during those early impressionable years died very recently of cancer.

Harry was the first MD I worked for. And what a power house of an MD to experience first in your career. He was definitely an industry game changer. But beyond that he was one of the nicest guys you could ever choose to work under. In truth, I didn't know Harry all that well, my real break in Red Bull came shortly after Harry moved on, but he left an impression on me, like he left an impression on all of us.

For seven years (out of eight that I eventually spent at the company) he had this knack of making people feel like they were known and valued. If he didn't know you that well, he made you feel like he knew you from old. He took time to speak to every single one of us; asking questions, sharing stories and anecdotes and best of all, freely imparting wisdom and experience amongst us. He was authentic, passionate and incredibly creative. I can still remember and recite old visions and mission statements he inspired us to chase after. I remember his 3C's speech at a national conference one year where he lit a fire in people about the Consumer, the Customer and the all important Can!

The one memory that sticks with me most of all though is his use of the Al Pacino video clip from the movie Any Given Sunday. It came at a time when the wheels were coming loose in the company. Our company, which to that point in time could do no wrong, was starting to lose its way. Maybe we'd become complacent, maybe we'd become arrogant. Either way, tension had crept-in and all was no longer unicorns and rainbows like we'd seen til then. At that year's annual conference, Harry spoke from the heart. He called out what was going on, he set a new direction, and he used this movie scene - something that has since gone onto become one of the most famous movie speeches of all time - to frame a change in dynamic in the company and bring everyone back together with a renewed focus and fire. He was a great marketeer, he had this ability to grab your attention and simplify words so that it aligned you and focussed you.

It landed with me that day just as it landed with most others in the room that day too. I've heard many a person talk about the impact his speech and this clip had on them early on in their careers and how it shaped their thinking and inspired future action. It doesn't really surprise me that oh so many of the people that followed Harry into battle have since gone on to run their own companies or be leaders in their own right of huge global brands.

So as I reflect on the life of an inspiring leader, thankful for the opportunity to be led by him and to be part of his 'team', i just wanted to leave a simple "thanks Harry" somewhere on the internet as a mark of respect for the guy.

Thanks Harry x