Jim Hughes

About Jim Hughes

Tell us about your educational background.

From a very young age, I harboured an aspiration to start my own business. Even back then, I would have gladly embarked on that journey after finishing school. Luckily, I received guidance to further my education and delve into a business-oriented field. I chose to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree because of its broad scope and manageable time commitment, which also facilitated networking within the business community. Throughout my studies, I concurrently managed two modest business endeavours, which helped me earn an income.

Tell us about your early career.

I observed the rapid growth of the IT sector and recognised it as a promising opportunity to launch a business. Therefore, I decided to pursue a career in the IT sector with the view of gaining an understanding of the industry. After graduating, I began my professional journey as an IT support engineer in a large ICT services company.  Later, I transitioned to working as the lead e-commerce consultant and senior technical consultant, and then as an IT Director in one of Ireland’s largest environmental services companies.  However, my primary interest always remained in the commercial aspects of business.

What is the background to setting up INNOVATE?

In 2006, Enda Cahill (Chief Technical Officer, INNOVATE) and I co-founded INNOVATE. I was 26 years old at the time. Occasionally, I reflect on the timing of starting the business, if we started earlier perhaps it would have placed us further along now. However, I also recognise the significance of gaining experience before diving into entrepreneurship.

Our vision when establishing the business was to offer a unique value and provide the highest levels of customer service, while prioritising the attraction and retention of top talent in the industry. Since the beginning, we have constantly improved on our offering and introduced new solutions along the way. For example, in 2012 we set up our communications business unit, VoiceGrid to provide integrated communication systems.

What does the company do?

INNOVATE is an ‘IT as a service’ company. This means, at INNOVATE, we transform traditional ICT infrastructure and professional service investments into a monthly operating expenditure. By doing so, we enable our customers to free up their capital, which they can then invest into activities that are essential to their core mission. Instead of large upfront capital expenses on ICT infrastructure and services, our customers can budget with predictable monthly payments, optimising their financial resources for strategic initiatives and business growth.

INNOVATE offers a unique and comprehensive approach by providing solutions for all aspects of information and communications technology (ICT), covering everything from individual desktop setups to data centre or cloud infrastructure and everything in between. This means that we address all technology needs within an organisation, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to managing ICT resources and systems across the entire spectrum of operations. Whether it's managing desktop devices, network connectivity, onsite infrastructure, cloud services, or specialised ICT security solutions, INNOVATE is committed to delivering secure end-to-end solutions and support with expertise to meet our clients' diverse technology requirements. This includes everything from the phone on our customer’s desk and network connectivity to onsite infrastructure, cloud and professional services. At INNOVATE we design, install, implement, monitor, support and report on ICT systems for people who wish to optimise their organisation’s productivity.

What are your future plans for the company?

Our company headquarters is in Ireland. We have always envisioned building a significant organisation in Ireland which has an impact, while also establishing a strong international brand. Many businesses have successfully achieved this, demonstrating that it is entirely feasible for us to do the same. With this in mind, we are planning a significant expansion. Over the past number of years, we have grown to 50 people, and I believe we can build on this to the benefit our customers.

Our two most important stakeholders are our employees and our customers. Therefore, my plans for INNOVATE will always prioritise building our culture as our competitive advantage. This culture is founded on the belief that improving our people leads to a better INNOVATE so we must invest in developing and empowering our team. Ingraining this into our culture means that we have always looked to be better today than we were yesterday. Through our culture my plan for the company is to deliver on our vision which is to become the market leader in transforming the consumption of technology to the cloud service model.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I aspire to be inclusive and to lead by example. I look for everyone in INNOVATE to take the lead. I encourage continuous improvement through creativity and innovation from everyone so that each person contributes to enhancing the experience of INNOVATE for those who follow. I firmly believe that leaders teach, mentor, coach and empower others to become leaders themselves. This involves seeking other people’s opinions and empowering them to run with initiatives. Naturally, the higher the quality of the individual, the greater the trust in their ability to make key decisions.

What’s your philosophy in business and life?

Make a conscious decision to respond, not react. Have a clear goal, support it with concise objectives and manage a set of actions to deliver these objectives in a timely manner. I believe you should take time with your team to evaluate an opportunity and all available alternatives. Once you have done so, you should take decisive action, communicate and move forward. It is important to reflect on decisions, it is one of the key ways we learn. Have a vision and a strategy and keep a constancy of purpose at the core of everything you do.

What are your greatest influences?

My family are my greatest influence.

What are your tips and advice for success?

To succeed in life and business, it's essential to:

• Understand your 'why': Clarify your purpose and motivation. Knowing your underlying reasons for your actions will guide your decisions and keep you focused.
• Surround yourself with good people: Build a strong network of talented, motivated individuals who share your commitment, vision and values. Communicate and collaborate with them to achieve collective success and try to leave a lasting legacy.
• Have a plan. First assess where you are, then where you want to go and finally how you are going to get there. Flex the plan to the ever changing environment.
• Remain positive - always: Maintain an optimistic mindset, even in the face of challenges. Realistic positivity fuels resilience and fosters a can-do attitude within a team that propels you forward towards your goal.

What have been your biggest successes and/or failures in business?

My greatest achievement has been my ability to consistently attract talented individuals to join INNOVATE who surpass my own capabilities in their area of competency. While I acknowledge my shortcomings and have encountered setbacks along the way, I have never seen any of them as a permanent outcome. Instead, I view these experiences as opportunities for change, learning and growth.

Do you have an exit strategy for the business?

Ultimately, my ambition is to fully realise our potential. I believe that striving for this goal is a continuous journey without a definitive endpoint. As a result, I don't foresee an exit strategy on the horizon. If at any point in the future I feel there's nothing more to achieve here, I certainly believe it would be time to reassess and set new goals. However, I don't envision that scenario occurring in the foreseeable future. We have built this business with a long-term perspective, focusing on continuous growth and evolution. 

What are your interests outside work?

I have a passion for sports, including cycling, sea swimming and hurling. I also enjoy reading and the performing arts.

As a company, we are actively involved in various sponsorships and community events, which means a significant portion of my time is dedicated to promoting our business. Even during my personal time, I find myself engaged in discussions and networking related to our company.

I don't believe in maintaining a strict work-life balance or adhering to traditional notions of time off and time on. Instead, I prefer to integrate work and life seamlessly. This approach works well for me because I genuinely love what I do. In the modern world, I believe that finding passion in your work allows you to blend work and personal life harmoniously, minimising the struggle between the two. While I prioritise spending quality time with my family, I see my work as an integral part of my life. This integration enables me to fully embrace and enjoy all aspects of life.

Original interview published in September 2016, updated in May 2024