People
Published: August 15, 2023 | Updated: 15th August 2023
Among a number of individuals which Don Iro, Founder of Hamilton Ventures, points to as inspiration, two who really stand out for him are football managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger.
“I have this philosophy that every leader is fantastic, however they’re not necessarily extra-ordinary,” he explained.
“Leaders are not made from professional expertise, they’re made from human expertise – the knowledge of self and the knowledge of people.
“Neither of Sir Alex nor Arsene had hugely successful football careers but they were able to pull together a group of very talented people and harmonise their collective genius – not just the team but also the board and stakeholders.
“We’re all capable of achieving great things, but you’ll only achieve those things if your daily work is harmony with your ‘why’.”
These are fitting role models for Don, who in his role at Hamilton Ventures is often charged with making already successful companies the best they can be.
It’s not a role which he necessarily planned to find himself in, however.
Don was born in Nigeria, coming to the UK in 2004 to study at what is now Solent University and graduating with a degree in electrical engineering.
“When I graduated I found an engineering role, which I did for a year. However I found I was not great at hands-on stuff, but I was good at coordination, pulling people together- what’s now called leadership, I didn’t know that at the time.”
Don got his first exposure to the corporate world of mergers and acquisitions while working for Nokia, working on the mobile phone giant’s deal with Microsoft on Lumia as well as working on a secret project looking at how the business could work with Android.
From here, he moved to an American business listed on the FTSE250.
“It was here I realised I could do really well in the corporate world, but I was bored. So, I challenged myself to look at other things – I felt I could contribute a lot more in a position with more influence.”
After moving to a smaller business, Don realised that he could do his own thing, and that he would like it more.
“I class myself as an integrator – I find visions that need to be executed in companies I can scale.”
Having found success with Hamilton Ventures helping to get the best out of businesses, Don started working to improve the community he loves.
“Im a Hampshire at heart person, married to a wife who is Bishops Waltham born and bred and both my kids were born in Winchester.
“Hampshire has welcomed me, owe a lot of what I’ve done and achieved to being part of this community.”
In 2019 Don returned to Solent University as a governor.
“It’s an amazing experience which opened my eyes to the world of a plural career, working on boards and acting as an advisor.”
In the following years Don was elected Councillor at Bishops Waltham and appointed as a non-executive director of the Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust, where he chairs their integrated digital committee.
“I think I’ve managed to navigate both the private and public sectors well. I like the responsibilities and principles of public life, and I like the innovative and entrepreneurial ways of doing things in the private sector. I want to bring the best of both to everything I do.
“One of my most important and humbling moments recently was performing the role of deputy chancellor at Solent University.”
Don explained his key motivation behind his success.
“My ultimate inspiration is my family – I want to create a life for them which enables them to excel as well as instilling in them the belief that they can.
“I want them to be able to take inspiration from my success to find it on their own terms. My family is my why.”
