Thierry Hebraud, Chief Executive Officer at Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), is a multicultural leader with a passion for discovery. He shares his experience and success tips with Boris Plantier from Qorus.
Please tell us a little bit about your background.
Although I was born in France, I like to think I’m a world citizen. I’ve lived most of my life in a multicultural environment, growing up in Madagascar and living and working all over the world thanks to my career in international banking. Life in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and North Africa has prepared me well for the multiculturality of Mauritius and the cross-borderness of the Mauritius International Financial Centre.
What does your workplace look like?
My door is always – literally – open because I embrace the open-door policy. Besides this, I think that because I have changed workplaces so much throughout my career, I’ve found that I adapt pretty easily to the offices I am given. I do like to make myself comfortable and will move a few things around to help make myself at home. For instance, I am not a fan of sofas in an office – it reminds me too much of coffee shops, which isn’t the right mindset for me. So yes, I’m thinking of replacing the sofas with a table so we don’t lose our focus.
Could you describe your usual working day?
I wake up at 6 am and am usually at the office by 7 am. I enjoy the early morning calm while I catch up on my emails and the files that require my attention. I then get started with the series of internal and external meetings that have been booked for the day. I do my best to discipline myself, however, to never be late home. I make a point of prioritizing my personal life, and dinnertime is a very important part of that.
What is your favorite food?
I love Vietnamese food, but I am very versatile. I probably have a very adaptable palate because I’ve lived in so many different parts of the world. I also love food generally, so I am always very keen to discover the different cuisines of the world.
What do you do when you need a break from work?
Travelling is an important part of our lives, and holidays are something we look forward to every year! In the banking sector, we are required to take two weeks of compliance leave a year, and I make the most of this opportunity to totally disconnect from work. We usually spend these two weeks discovering new places. I rarely go twice to the same place because my passion is the discovery of cultural gaps!
What is the key to building a successful team?
I’d say the ability to listen, disagree, and respect differences of opinion is a significant requirement. It’s also very important to empower team members and learn to delegate. But fundamentally, these need to be supported by a vision and a clear understanding of where we want to go. Easier said than done, I agree! Finally, one mustn’t hesitate to part ways with team members who are not able or willing to be team players.
There is a saying that we learn more from failure than success. Tell me about one of your failures and what you have learned from it.
Ah, there have been many failures along the way! I’d say that the biggest lesson has been not to let things fester. When I was young, I used to believe that time would take care of an issue – particularly if it was something I didn’t want to handle. But I have learnt that the more you delay tough decisions, the more drastic the actions required. Time truly doesn’t help!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to succeed in financial services?
Stay away! I’m only half joking because the financial sector has become too regulated. But if the appeal is too strong, put all your energy into understanding your colleagues, your teams and your clients. They will become more important than anything. You will always come second.
