Interview with Lauren Ker, Managing Director, Clermont Trust Guernsey
Date: 06 July 2023
One word that best describes how you work: Committed
1. Lauren, you have worked in both South Africa and the United Kingdom. How did you have to adapt your working style when you changed location?
It required a degree of flexibility. South Africans are often considered abrupt whilst we believe we are just being honest. This made me more aware of the need to adjust how I dealt with colleagues, respectively to be more supportive and patient but still preserve my candid style of communication.
2. How important is company culture to you? What measures did you take to maintain your desired culture in the Clermont Trust’s office in Guernsey?
The company culture is fundamental, and it is the basis of our decision-making for example who we recruit. I would say it was the most important factor in us joining Clermont Trust Group. With the culture alignment, we knew the teams would enjoy working together and perform well.
I believe our culture comes from everyone being on the same page as to what work we need to get done, an understanding of everyone’s role in those shared goals and celebrating the achievements together. We are a small team, so every member has a significant influence on the team’s attitude, and we all play a key part in each other’s workday. We have built a strong team in Guernsey and Sark, and we work well together on rewarding projects for clients we are proud to support.
3. What is your current and ideal work-life balance? What measures do you take to control the work-life balance of you and your colleagues?
This has generally been a challenge for me, but since having my daughter who is now two-and-a-half years, I needed to make changes. I was frazzled. It is a conscious commitment to making time for her. We are very lucky here in Guernsey where there is a great support system and community, short commutes, and fantastic childcare. All these things contribute to achieving the ultimate work-life balance.
At work, whilst we do work under pressure and in a time-sensitive environment, our team is well supported. We continue to recruit suitable people to build our team and ensure existing members are not left to deal with a huge workload as a result of our high-growth business.
4. Could you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your leadership style and approach?
The merger of Rock Trustees and Clermont Trust was a defining moment for me. Our team went through significant change and uncertainty, and to provide reassurance and stability, our leadership was transparent throughout the transaction. That helped everyone feel informed at each stage. We also led with confidence and communicated clearly.
5. In today’s fast-paced business world, continuous learning is crucial. Could you share a recent book, article, website or podcast or even a person that has impacted your thinking either personally or professionally?
I recently listened to Flea’s autobiography as an audiobook, narrated by him. He is the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I chose this rather than a business title because I was genuinely struck by his passion and gentleness, and by how powerfully music can influence mental wellbeing.
On the business side, I would recommend Shoe Dog. I really enjoyed it and was surprised by the scale of the challenges the founder faced while building the company. It is truly an eye-opener, especially given how iconic Nike is today.
