I have always felt incredibly fortunate to have grown up in Australia. I am incredibly grateful for all the opportunities that have been afforded to me, whether that be in my religious, personal or business life.
It is the latter I would like to focus on in this article.
I am a firm believer in the value of entrepreneurialism and the ability for it to generate and share wealth across communities. Entrepreneurialism is the bedrock that provides a societal uplift by giving people jobs and building businesses that pay the taxes that support our health, education and police.
There are those that think you need to go to somewhere like America to see the entrepreneurial spirit, but I think there is an Australian flavour that is typically understated and aligned with our ethos.
At its core, entrepreneurialism is about encouraging and supporting those willing to have a go, to have a crack and do something without an initial clear path to success, but might get there with some good planning and a lot of hard work.
And it’s certainly not something you can do alone.
My journey taking the reins at OX Tools Global in 2000 had its fair share of hurdles along the way. However, through a combination of factors, including great staff and advice, we have been able to establish a foothold in the global marketplace.
Today OX Tools Global operates across 35 countries, with 13 offices spanning seven regions and a team of more than 215 people worldwide. And including through strategic acquisitions, we have managed to strengthen our global footprint and product offering.
As said in a recent article in Forbes, the entrepreneurial mindset can go beyond personal, professional or business interests, it can also drive social change.
That resonated deeply with me because our investment approach at the Shavano Family Office is to drive both business outcomes with community outcomes.
That’s why we invest in families through our charitable donations and volunteering for organisations like The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, which cares for up to 170,000 children every year across Westmead and Randwick hospitals.
We support the entrepreneurial mindset because it is the vehicle through which we can deliver investment growth and support social good.
To all the entrepreneurs out there currently grinding away and giving back to the community, I tip my hat to you.
Dean Hales
Founder and CEO
