In Conversation with Stephen Dwyer

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I love getting out and about with the kids, their happiness and giggles when they're let loose to explore is great. On the flip side, I do enjoy the opportunity to sit beside the fire and have a nice drop of whiskey.  Two very different but perfect scenarios…

2. What’s your favourite holiday memory?

Holidaying in the Maldives with my wife and eldest son. I remember watching the two of them paddling in the water a few meters from our Villa as the sunset and thinking it was beautiful. 

3. What are you reading? Would you recommend it? 

The baby sleep solution by Lucy Wolfe, would I recommend it, ask me in a couple of weeks, sleep deprivation really is a form of torture.

4. Which talent would you most like to have?

I’d love to be able to sing and play the piano. Unfortunately, I haven’t a note in my head or a piano, so I’ve no hope. 

5. What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement to date?

Being part of the team to deliver Fakeeh hospital, was a challenging project but once it was handed over and you see it being used to treat patients you can’t help but be proud of it. It’s also nice to think a project you worked on is making a difference and helping people.

6. What practice area do you specialise in and why does it matter?

Project management, every good orchestra needs a conductor.

7. What is the quality you most admire in a leader? 

Integrity and accountability, leaders should be honest, trustworthy, reliable and practice what they preach. If you make a mistake hold your hands up and present a solution.

8. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever been given? 

You can’t control everything and you have to trust the team around you to do their part. If they fail, this is when you need to be there to pick up the pieces, otherwise, you and them will never learn. (Easier said than done)

9. Name your favourite building (international only + why?)

My favourite building is the Rockefeller Center, the views of New York from the top of the rock are fantastic, but I love the history behind it being built by Irish, Polish and Italian immigrants, along with the photo of the workers sitting on the steel beam eating their lunch. Did you know the first-ever Christmas tree was actually bought by the construction workers!

10. Tell us something not many people know about you.

It’s around 25 years since I watched a scary movie, made the mistake of watching IT the clown with my pals when I was quite young and have never been able to watch a scary movie since!