BUSINESS PROFILE years later , I don ’ t think anyone , me included , could have seen how it would change society and business so dramatically .
What ’ s the business ’ approach to management ?
Our philosophy is built around putting people first and whether that be our own Zen workforce , our customers or our suppliers , it is something that sets us apart in the industry . To be successful , you need your people to be happy and engaged . This fuels the creation of a good customer experience and enables a greater relationship with suppliers too .
We also give staff the autonomy to make their own decisions , for example with our customer service employees . They ’ re given the authority to make decisions on the spot to help solve customer problems , such as authorising a new router , without the need to seek senior approval . This gives staff the freedom to be efficient and ultimately the responsibility that enables them to grow .
What is your company ’ s vision and goal ?
The ultimate aim for Zen is to help make the world a better place by evolving the capitalist system so it ’ s more focused on people and sustainability . We want to do that by setting the example that you can build a successful business through this approach . It ’ s key that people understand that people and profit are not mutually exclusive .
What kind of clients do you serve ?
We have clients right across the spectrum from residential customers around the country , through to SMEs , enterprises and the channel . Depending on the needs of the customer , our services range from broadband , hosting , voice and data through to Ethernet and infrastructure . We are proud to have built the biggest independent broadband network in the
OUR ETHOS OF HAPPY STAFF , HAPPY CUSTOMERS , HAPPY SUPPLIERS IS EMBEDDED IN EVERYTHING WE DO .
UK and provide wholesale access to this network to other ISPs .
What has your career looked like so far ?
The first word that springs to mind is , varied . Before I started at Zen , I was a computer software and hardware engineer for six years . Starting Zen from scratch , I ’ ve had to do everything from answering the customer service phones , to fixing the network , creating the website and more .
As the company has grown , I ’ ve had to learn first-hand how to manage and lead people and teams , and then how to let go of responsibilities as I moved from CEO to Chairman in the last three years .
Richard Tang , Chairman and Founder , Zen Internet
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