As part of our ‘Getting To Know’ series, we’re talking to central members of the LEO Learning family so you can get to know them better. Today we’re speaking to Martin Stanton, one of our talented team members and a Business Unit Director.
Describe your role at LEO Learning.
LEO Learning is comprised of two specialist account teams and for the last four years I have been leading one of them. As a team of 25, we focus on a number of key accounts and sectors for LEO Learning, including Government, Defence, Finance, FMCG (CPD), Oil/Gas/Utilities, Media and Marketing.
Each of those sectors has a dedicated lead who draws upon the expertise of Project Managers, Learning Consultants and Technical/Support Specialists within the team. Together with the studio teams we deliver over 250 projects a year, working alongside clients and consulting on learning technology design and implementation.
I also work with the other members of the management team to define LEO Learning’s strategy, focus and future direction. This team also drives the integration of [parent company] Learning Technology Group’s “best of breed” products and services for the benefit of our clients at LEO Learning.
Behind the glamour, I am responsible for the P&L, budgeting, forecasting and all things financial in the team.
Get to know LEO Learning’s Martin Stanton better
Which part of working at LEO Learning do you love most?
Easy – it has to be my team. It’s their passion, drive and the fact that they love coming to work every day. Everyone has the freedom to be creative and we share in success, while putting our clients at the heart of everything we do.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Being able to work with clients at the very beginning of their learning technology journey, having the opportunity to work as a trusted partner to influence, design and implement their L&D programmes.
Alongside my colleague Kerry, I’ve been crowned the undisputed champion of the company’s Fantasy Football competition, despite being a rugby lover. In the same year, I also won the team Boules event by an embarrassing margin, without breaking a sweat. I’ve barbecued nine butterflied legs of lamb for the LEO Learning team’s lunch and been at work everyday since I started in 2013.
Proud times…
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?
It would probably be keeping pace and supporting clients and their ever-evolving needs, while finding the time to introduce innovation and personalise their experience with LEO Learning. Also, ensuring my team are all moving in the same direction with aligned priorities and an appetite to drive change and success in everything they do.
What are the three things you can’t work without?
I’m not going to say the team again as it’s getting repetitive.
- A little bit of chaos. I enjoy walking into the building without knowing the full make up of my day, and rising to whatever challenges it presents.
- The knowledge that if I successfully navigate the 32 pubs on the way, I can be home in five minutes whenever my day is done.
- Having a laugh and enjoying what I do every day.
As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was always going to be a zookeeper. I thought it would be fun to work with animals, as opposed to people, on a daily basis, safe in the knowledge they could never challenge, overrule or interrupt you as you worked through your daily work routine.The closest I came to this dream was studying Zoology as an undergraduate, and attending the occasional cocktail party at Melbourne Zoo whilst at uni. One should never draw parallels between caring for animals and managing a team, so I don’t plan to be the first.