As we celebrate 10 years of Mayvin, Chair and co-founder Tony Fraser shares his experience of how the business has stayed true to its founding principles.
I am very lucky to have been a part of Mayvin since its conception. It’s been wonderful working with James Traeger and Martin Saville from the beginning and to be an enthusiastic supporter of Mayvin’s growth and success. As Chair, I’ve been able to enjoy feeling a part of it without having to do all the hard work.
To mark Mayvin's 10th anniversary, I thought I might contribute a couple of experiences that feel important to me:
Martin, James and I would go off for a couple of days each year to think and plan together. We still do that, now with fellow Director Sarah Fraser and the other members of the Exec. Committee. On this occasion (in January 2014) we went to Whitstable. Mayvin was doing well, building its presence and credibility in the public sector but I was frustrated – I wanted to push harder, to ‘be more commercial’. Having run my own consulting business and retired from it, I think I wanted James and Martin to recreate it. With patience and kindness, they helped me let go of my vision and work together to shape and pursue theirs. I learned to recognise and respect their emphasis on quality, kindness and integrity across every aspect of Mayvin’s work but especially in relationships. I discovered that my role was to support and help Mayvin become what James, Martin and Sarah want it to be rather than the other way around.
Another experience, another away day – this time in the New Forest, maybe the summer, two years later and with everyone present. We are sitting together, the whole team, around a big table in a lovely garden of a country house hotel. On the agenda, a typical Mayvin question: What is working in Mayvin about for you — what drives you? Some talked about the core purpose, to do good work that makes organisations work better, especially for people and relationships, others about a sense of belonging to a like-minded community and others about it being a place to learn and grow. I was a bit astonished to discover that I was the only one to talk about making money.
Mayvin now is much bigger, stronger and more diverse but still holds true to its founding principles. That feels good and satisfying.
Join our special anniversary events together with the Mayvin Community to celebrate 10 years of Mayvin.