Emma Peterson, Director FinTech Awards Wales & Finance Awards Wales Meets:
Mike Jordan,
Founder & Managing Director
Toward
In this series of ‘Emma Meets', Emma Peterson, Director of Recruit 121 Finance & Accounting Solutions, finds out more about the sponsors of the Finance Awards Wales 2023, that took place on the 12th May at Cardiff's City Hall. Finance Awards Wales is designed to recognise, attract and invest in the talented finance professionals working in Wales, showcasing the best of the best in the finance industry. In this edition, Emma meets Mike Jordan, Founder and Managing Director of Toward.
Tell me about yourself and career to date?
About me eh?
Well I’m either known as the face of Bluegg or the co-founder of Wales Week – the initiative that celebrates and promotes Wales around the world. Also one of the founders of long standing networking event Fiftyone3 – (due to return, watch this space!)
More recently I’m the Managing Director of Toward. The agency that moves. After 21 years this is what Bluegg has become and I’m proud to lead the change.
My role is and always has been to seek opportunities, build relationships and grow the business. But the work we do at Toward circles around identifying the ingredients in brand, design and online needed to drive progress and growth for our clients.
This all came from initially studying design and then spending a lifetime learning how it can positively affect the performance of a business.
Can you give me an overview of your company and what you do?
As above really – Toward is a strategic brand and web development agency. We help businesses and organisations focus on their long term objectives and help them make decisions that will set them on their path. We create, grow and reposition brands, build websites and provide creative support services.
What has been the biggest challenge the company has faced and how have you responded?
Our biggest challenge has always been managing growth ourselves, particularly given the volatility across all sectors affecting how people work, behave and buy services. Managing team culture has been a challenge particularly when the going gets tough and remote/flexible working has taken hold.
How do you feel the Welsh economy will fare over the next 12 months?
I will always be an optimist and lucky to feed from the positive energy of our client base. All I can say is It’s been tough – Lots of sectors are still recovering from the wholesale damage that Covid inflicted but it will get better, if we keep working hard and focussing on a brighter future.
What plans do you have for your business in 2023?
Since the launch of Toward the only way is up. We’re hopeful of attracting new projects, ambitious clients who are on their own growth journey. We’re going to be putting ourselves out there; sharing what we’ve learned over the years. I’ll be running events throughout the year – face to face discussions with business leaders who’ve been through it all and come out the other end.
Why did you choose to sponsor the Finance Awards Wales 2023?
We’ve been a founding sponsor of FAW since inception and always been proud to support achievements within the business, corporate and professional world. But mainly, the FAW has always been an amazing night out 🙂
If you have sponsored the awards previously what were your highlights from last year’s ceremony?
I personally quite like getting involved in the judging – hearing from all the incredibly passionate and clever nominees, but the atmosphere at the ceremony will always be difficult to beat.
