On the lighter side of things, we ask the industry experts what makes them tick....

Todd Gorsuch, CEO, Customer Science Group, tells us what time in tech has taught him so far.

Bootstrapping a company from nothing – zero dollars and zero people back in 2014 – to what we are today at Customer Science, a consulting business employing more than 50 people who deliver incredible solutions for other organisations, has been so rewarding. In some ways it feels like I cheated when I did it: I started out thinking,‘ if I had my perfect job, what would it look like?’ and then I just designed the company around that and it worked brilliantly! Obviously it makes money but I also love the fact we can make a difference to other businesses’ productivity and growth. The fact that we were on the AFR Fastest 100 list in 2024 is the icing on the cake.

What first made you think of a career in technology?

My passion for all things tech was the first thing. Back in the 1990s, I was buying PC magazines, building my own computers and experimenting with spreadsheets – moving cells around and working out all the numbers. I absolutely loved that stuff. For whatever reason, I chose to study science at university and my first job was in a laboratory doing molecular research for legionnaires’ disease. But there’ s no money in science and I found myself thinking,‘ why not go and build a career in something you’ re passionate about and like doing and that’ s going to pay?’ So that’ s what I did.

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?

Being a very entrepreneurial style of person myself, I love giving people an achievable target and a lot of freedom and seeing them go off and make things happen. Since I established Customer Science, I’ ve tried hard to work with people I like because you get more done that way and it’ s just easier. Office politics are anathema to me – we’ ll remove people from the business if that stuff starts to happen. I also like the concept of playing to people’ s strengths. Everyone has one and if they’ re using it, they can really deliver for customers.

What do you think is the current hot technology talking point?

AI, AI, AI! It’ s everything we talk about because it’ s on everyone’ s minds in the commercial world. In 2023, the conversation was about the possibilities, then in 2024, it shifted towards,‘ how do we do this properly?’

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