Meet the Team – Manny Leon

Join us for a series of informal chats with Celerity Staff from all areas of our business! This week, get to know our Business Development Manager, Manny Leon.

What is your current role at Celerity?

My role at Celerity as a Business Development Manager is to build relationships with new prospects, with the view to selling a Celerity service that delivers business value, benefits and outcomes to that company. Once an initial engagement and solution has been sold, the aim is to become a trusted partner to that company and to develop a long term business relationship.

What were you doing before you joined Celerity?

I have worked in the IT industry since 1997 and I have seen a significant amount of change and positive evolution in the industry since I started. I spent my first 10 years selling Telecomms and Data Connectivity solutions, this evolved into sales and consulting roles delivering Managed IT Services. Today, Cyber Security is front and centre of a CIO and board’s agenda, so in recent years I started to focus more on the Security of IT services. Overall, I have a very well rounded view of IT services, and feel I deliver good consultative advice and thought leadership to the clients I work with.

What is the best part/most exciting part about working for Celerity?

The diversity of my role and the continual learning and personal development is very rewarding. From a diversity perspective, I can be in a Celerity office working with colleagues one day, the following morning I will be presenting to a prospect and the same day working with a partner to develop a solution, then at a networking event the same evening. This diversity means I am exposed to a range of different, new and emerging technologies, so every day is like a school day.

What is one of the accomplishments from your time at Celerity that you are most proud of?

In my short time at Celerity, I have sought to bring a new approach to developing new business opportunities. I am very programmatic in the way I target organisations and how I present the solutions, which ultimately must deliver the value, benefit and outcomes to the companies I engage with. The new perspective has been well received by my colleagues and will continually develop.

What do you think is your biggest strength?

Saying something and doing something are very different things. I like to think that I deliver on my promises and commitments which ultimately builds trust and confidence with my clients, partners and colleagues alike.

What do you think sets Celerity apart from others?

To coin a phrase, Celerity “punch above their weight” and this is no mean feat in a busy and capable industry. The level of professionalism, knowledge and service delivery in the company is second to none and the ability to be agile and to go that extra mile gives us distinction and huge credibility.

How would you describe the culture here at Celerity?

The Celerity culture is one of being a team who are committed, unified, happy and harmonious, with each individual in the business knowing what they are doing and why. This facilitates the delivery of exceptional client engagements and service on an ongoing basis, from a team who enjoy working together and who will always support one another.

How would you define success?

The measure of success is not just about hitting sales and revenue targets, there has been a significant change in what employees and companies value since the pandemic, and the aspirations for a better work and life balance. By affording some flexibility, success can be achieved more readily with employees who are motivated, fresh and willing to go that extra mile.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Family is important and spending time with them is always a great way to unwind and have a laugh and a joke. Sport has played a significant part of my life, I hung up my football/rugby boots and golf clubs a decade ago but still run and go to the gym, which is great for the mind, body and soul.

What’s the most interesting place in the world that you’ve been to?

When I was 12, I went on a family holiday to Turkey which was quite exotic in 1986, we saw some amazing historical sites but the place that has always stuck with me was Pamukkale, which was a collection of natural mineral thermal pools which we were allowed to swim in, I think health and safety would prohibit that nowadays!

What’s your favourite film and why?

It depends on my mood as to whether it’s a comedy, thriller, action, horror etc. but the one I seem to have watched most times is “The Sting” with Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw. A great story about ethical conmen making a buck during the US depression in the 1930’s.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Always an interesting question… it would be teleportation since I hate idle time travelling and this would save me huge amounts of time and frustration!!

Pineapple on pizza?

Of course! And ketchup on the side please….