Ten Questions in Ten Minutes: With Henry Lynch

Henry Lynch is the chief executive of the New Zealand Association of Credit Unions

Business to Business - What inspired you to be in this role?
Henry Lynch – I was drawn to the role by the fact that our credit union organisations are based on co-operative values. They provide services and products that go back to members (who are the ultimate owners of the credit union) through a combination of sponsorship, community work or lower banking fees. In essence, they help the wider community through financial literacy and a philosophy of ‘people helping people’.

BtoB - Who has influenced you the most professionally?
HL - A lot of Charles Handy’s business concepts and social ideas on where the world is heading have been very helpful.

BtoB - How would you describe yourself as a businessperson?
HL - I like to look at things from a customer point of view with an eye on commercial realism.

BtoB - What do you consider your greatest achievement?
HL - Being involved in the Financial Services Industry and helping businesses and teams get through the Global Financial Crisis with good humour!

BtoB - With hindsight, what is the one thing you would do differently?
HL - Sometimes being risk averse and not moving as quickly as I should on tricky issues – they never go away!

BtoB - Who do you find inspirational and why?
HL - O’Sensei Morehei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, who established the martial art that is now recognised worldwide as building on co-operative principles that can be used in business.

BtoB - What is the most inspirational book you have read recently?
HL - ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins. It has very easy concepts that can be explained through to all levels of teams. Also the book ‘The Learning Revolution’ by Gordon Dryden & Dr Jeannette Vos, who explore learning whether it be in business or personal life in an inspirational, thought-provoking way.

BtoB - What is your favourite website and why?
HL - inerest.co.nz.  A very informative business site that gives you quick updates as well as in-depth articles when required. Reader feedback makes the site ‘alive’.

BtoB - What is the first thing you would do if you became Prime Minister?
HL - Pass a set of laws requiring everyone to have more energy and enthusiasm for business and life in general!

BtoB - What is the best thing about being in business?
HL - Helping businesses and teams help others to realise what is possible if we all work together collaboratively.