National publicity for Novacroft MD

Debra Charles, Managing Director of Novacroft in Northampton was recently featured in a Financial Times article about successful entrepreneurs and how effective leadership promotes company growth.

Charles established Novacroft in 1998, which specialises in smart card solutions, ticketing systems and data management services using remote and mobile technology. She has grown the business into a multi-million pound operation by taking time out of the day-to-day operations to look ahead and plan where the business is going.

Concentrating on strategy rather than operations can be hard to achieve for many owner managers – they find it difficult to let go, especially if they have a strong personal connection with the business. In Charles’ case, she had started Novacroft following the death of both her parents, and the stark realisation that life is short was the catalyst for putting her business plans into action. Aware of the need to take a more strategic view, Charles took part in Cranfield’s School of Management Business Growth and Development Programme which helped her to focus on her goals, working on the business, rather than in the business. She then identified the business’s key functions and built a senior management team to address them.

Charles is certainly not remote from her business, believing that regular communication is critical and she holds weekly meetings with her team.

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