Every month we pose 7 questions to a Chamber member, this time it’s Tom Gilles of Reto Finance
- Who are you & what do you do?
I’m Tom, a Business Development Manager at Reto Finance. I specialize in helping local businesses and Guernsey residents achieve their financial goals through tailored solutions. Outside of work, I enjoy playing golf, watching Formula 1 and football, and continually exploring this beautiful island we call home.
- How long have you been doing what you do?
I’ve been in sales roles for nearly six years, with the last two focused on financial services. But if you ask my friends, they’d say I’ve been able to talk to anyone for much longer!
- How did you get into this?
During university I took on a placement year at Pareto Law, a sales recruitment firm. Despite not knowing what I was getting into, I fell in love with sales (even the tough parts!). After graduating, I worked in software sales before making the move to Guernsey, where I took the leap into financial services, working at specialist lenders for nearly two years, I wouldn’t change a thing!
- What’s the ‘why’ behind the work you do?
For me, there is no better feeling in the workplace than knowing you have succeeded, done a good job, and helped a client or colleague.
Working in various Business Development roles creates fantastic opportunities to talk to clients and potential clients, seeing how I can best help them achieve their objectives. Outside of work, my ‘why’ is creating the best future I can for my partner and me by achieving as much as possible in life, and being able to look back and be proud of myself!
- What’s your process for coming up with your solutions/offers?
First port of call is too understand what a day in the other person’s life looks like, then identifying the challenges they are facing, and their impact on what they are trying to achieve. While this might sound like a generic statement, I am genuinely interested in finding out what drives people and where they want to go. So, not necessarily just the what but the why behind them, and what is slowing or stopping them from getting to their intended destination.
- What book has shaped your life and why?
The book would be Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount (a great read for anyone looking to grow a business or debating business development). I must also give a shoutout to the High Performance Podcast episode with Nick Cox (Head of Academy at Manchester United), not just because I am a huge Manchester United fan, but I have never felt so aligned with someone’s personality and motivations until I listened to Nick’s episode.
- Tea, Coffee or something a little stronger?
Yes to all three! Tea must be Yorkshire and a builder’s brew (showing my Northern roots there). Coffee – black for the most part, but a mocha is a treat! Something stronger? That’s for me and the De La Rue to know about.
