A poster child for ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’, when Grant Broadbent isn’t delivering business intelligence to Kiwi businesses, you’ll catch him on his motorcycle, off-roading, mountain biking or hitting the slopes. Grant Broadbent is a founding partner of Stellar Consulting, and draws on 36 years of experience in the IT industry, focusing primarily on large-scale systems. To get to know a little more about Stellar’s Managing Director, we asked Grant a few questions of our own.
Describe what you ate for breakfast this morning…
Smashed avocado and tomato on Vogel’s toast. A kiwi classic.
What’s the one film you go to time and time again?
The Australian Movie “The Castle”. A lovely reminder of the good in all people no matter what their station and confirmation of just how much Aussies and Kiwis have in common.
What book is sitting on your bedside table right now?
“The History Of The WW1” by Arthur Conan Doyle. An attempt at finding out just how otherwise intelligent, prosperous nations could think that something of such scale and horror was a good idea.
Who do you admire the most?
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I am not a royalist but as the all-time longest-serving monarch, the Queen’s dedication to her duty is second to none. She has “kept the royal magic in the box” despite the efforts of some of her in-laws and grandchildren and continues to bring joy to millions of Britons to this day. Fingers crossed for Prince Philip’s recovery.
What’s been your biggest success in life?
My life journey with my wife of nearly 30 years, Melissa. It’s been a ball.
How do you rate your work/life balancing skills?
Perfect. I’ve always balanced work obligations with risky, physical pastimes like off-road motorcycling, mountain biking and skiing. I have many scars and lots of tall stories. Indeed, I’ve just had my Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstructed after snapping it in a dirt bike get-off. If you don’t get at least one serious “oh s–t” moment on any given weekend, you’re not going hard enough.
You can choose any three people over for dinner – who are they, and what do you cook?
I’m trying to avoid the cliches here, but I’d invite the aforementioned Queen, of course, for the reasons above. I’m a bit of Beatles music tragic so I’d like to invite George Martin over (assuming resurrection services were available too), to get the inside skinny on the greatest pop band of all time. And, as a space race nerd, I’d invite Gene Kranz over. Gene, who’s still alive and gigging, was a Flight Director central to most of the Apollo missions, including the ill-fated Apollo 13.
Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes are popular in our household at the moment. I’d cook a selection from one of his books – probably Harissa Marinated Beef Sirloin with Preserved Lemon Sauce as a central theme from the “Ottolenghi Simple” book. I’d probably have to hold back the garlic for the Queen, though.
What did you learn in 2020?
How can you talk about 2020 without using the C-word? Since COVID-19, I’ve been blown away by the dedication, resilience and resourcefulness of our team at Stellar. They have prevailed through challenging times. I’m very grateful for their efforts. Thanks, gals and guys!
What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months?
I want to say thanks to our team in a special way, once things settle down again, as I’m sure they will.
What’s the last record you listened to in full?
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd. In my opinion by far the best of the post-Syd Barrett Floyd albums. Lots of great personal memories too.
What’s your life motto?
Straight from my mum back in the 70s: “Treat those around you as you’d wish to be treated”. I hope I’ve not let her down.
