Alastair Majury

I recommend that everyone try and stay positive and fully embrace having a positive mental attitude when it comes to professional matters.

 

A dedicated and eager professional, Alastair Majury is one of Scotland’s premiere data scientists and business analysts. His extensive knowledge of the industry, innate problem solving skills and knack for communication have allowed him to forge an highly successful career for himself. Utilizing these raw talents, Alastair has earned the respect and admiration of not only his colleagues, but his community as well. Currently, Alastair serves as the director of Majury Change Management, as well as a senior business analyst for Alastair Majury Project Management, both of which are companies that he’s founded.

As the director of Majury Change Management, Alastair is responsible for overseeing virtually every aspect of the business, primarily involving providing fantastic client services. As a senior business and project manager at Alastair Majury Project Management, Alastair is responsible for providing practical and creative solutions to a variety of problems for a multitude of companies. Alastair works primarily in the financial sector, often working with large, multinational banks. In short, Alastair works hand in hand with his clients to assess current business practices, gather data, analyze the information, devise solutions to any problems, and present his findings to investors and board members in the hopes of solving these problems. Alastair can provide solutions to anything from organizational processes to finance and payroll systems. Alastair Majury’s main goal is to cut costs and increase productivity and profit. Some of his clients include: HSBC, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Citi Bank.

A natural born entrepreneur, Alastair took his decades of experience working as a data scientist and business analyst and decided to form his own company, so that he may provide his own personal touch and skills to a wider variety of clients. Since founding Alastair Majury Project Management in 2010, and Majury Change Management in 2016, Alastair Majury has seen tremendous success in his field. Prior to founding his own businesses, Alastair has worked for several high-profile financial institutions and organizations, including National Australia Bank, Standard Life and BNP Paribas Corporate and Institutional Banking. During his time at these companies, Alastair honed the data science skills that would prepare him for taking on his own business.

Outside of work, Alastair Majury is a dedicated philanthropist who enjoys working closely with his community to provide assistance where needed. He is a major proponent of working together in order to help out the greater community, which can help improve the world. Alastair is also very proud of his home country, Scotland, primarily for its beautiful landscapes, rich tradition and historical significance.

Where did the idea for Majury Change Management come from?

I wanted to go the “extra mile” to help my clients deliver the change that they need in an efficient, economic, and timely manner. I have seen so many large consultancies come into companies to assist in delivering change, promising so much at the start but after they have secured the contract retreat to a ‘cookie cutter’ style approach rather than being focussed on what the client needs. I tailor my approach specifically to the needs of your business and change in order to ensure that change is delivered successfully.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

There is no typical day which is just one reason I chose to specialise in change management, my professional life started off with a mixed focus on OTC Credit Derivatives such as Credit Default Swaps, and on change projects. Whilst I really enjoyed working with OTC Credit Derivatives and became recognised as an expert at a globally-renowned financial services company I preferred the variety of the change work.

My days can range anywhere from helping to develop the business case to defining the ‘Scope On A Page’, to working with SMEs and end users to gather requirements, working senior stakeholders, developers and testers, and even producing communications to go out to hundreds of thousands of customers.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by first establishing what is needed and intended by the stakeholders, understanding both the big and small picture and then tailoring the message to the stakeholders as required so that everyone is able to understand the idea and what is being delivered.

What’s one trend that really excites you?

Big Data, but actually that more and more companies are starting to take basic data management principles more seriously and understanding just how important data is to any organisation.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

My willingness to go the ‘extra mile’ for end clients and living the ‘one team’ ethos so that the focus is myself and the team will focus on the end goal and not on a ‘silo’ style of working.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Whilst I was employed by a blue-chip organisation, I would have told myself to have been firmer in making sure that I fully exercised their professional development opportunities in order to gain qualifications from respectable chartered organisations as early as possible.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?

I have not really encountered this, however, by embracing the ‘one team’ ethos and ensuring that everyone is in the same boat and rowing together to reach the end goal, we are generally on message. However, I do prefer a non-silo, low hierarchy/high meritocracy style of organisation that not everyone is comfortable with.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I recommend that everyone try and stay positive and fully embrace having a positive mental attitude when it comes to professional matters. Also, to embrace continuous professional development and to keep adding relevant qualifications to your CV, as this will signify that you are a serious professional keen on getting the job done in the right manner.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

The strategy that has helped me is keeping an eye on what the market is demanding and highlighting my existing skills and experience that are particular relevant to that demand and, if needed, to give that signal a little boost by pursuing continuous professional development that is relevant to the skills that are in demand.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Not being fully aware of the different corporate cultures that are evident even in one segment of the economy and adjusting or avoiding accordingly. However, whilst the cultures were not always a great fit I still went the extra mile for my clients.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Being able to monetize the opportunities that the Payment Services Directive 2 will provide by enabling a ‘one stop shop’ platform for end users when it comes to accessing all of their financial needs whilst also providing a ‘robo advice’ wealth management service that would normally be restricted to high net worth individuals.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently spent $100 on the next course book for the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments’ Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma, because investing in your skills and knowledge is always worthwhile.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Microsoft Excel. It is a very versatile piece of office software that allows so many tasks and analysis to be performed in an efficient manner.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Moving to the personal space, the book “Dune” by Frank Herbert is well worth a read; like many books it is better than various adaptations that have been made but is truly a classic work of space opera that spans so many facets of the human condition.

What is your favourite quote?

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense.” -Winston S Churchill. A classic quote but one that helps to keep going the extra mile for my clients.