Scott Brothers is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Oncam. He has worked at the company since July 2014 in several different roles. Prior to Oncam, he worked at Axis Communications and TAG Company.
How did you come to work in the security industry?
In 1996, I was training to become an electrical engineer when I spotted an ad for an apprentice engineer. I applied and was successful in being chosen to join the Sensormatic apprenticeship scheme in the United Kingdom and Ireland. There I began my 21-year journey in the security industry, which brings me to my current role at Oncam.
What is the best professional advice you have received?
Listen, listen and listen some more. Which continues to take real training because of my passion over spilling into a “need to be heard” when really, I should be listening. It’s a trait I continually work on and seek feedback on. Listening for me equals learning and the best ideas sometimes come from the unexpected voice in the room. The open environment we cultivate at Oncam really promotes this kind of interaction at all levels.
| Quick Facts | |
| Biggest hero | My wife, Lucy |
| Favourite book | An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography, by Paul Rusesabagina |
| Favourite album | "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye |
| Favourite film | Good Will Hunting |
| Favourite TV show | House of Cards |
What's something few people know about you?
Every time I take up a new challenge in my career, I generally go with my gut more than my head. This scares me senseless until I build internal relationships at which point I feel the group can achieve something special together. I feel courage is a major building block in leadership; but that doesn’t mean we can’t be vulnerable, as leaders are human and we should never stop being human because traits such as empathy and compassion set us apart.
What's the most rewarding thing about what you do for a living?
The fact that I don’t consider it work; I merely consider it a large part of my life. Jeff Bezos of Amazon talks about the phrase "work/life balance" being outdated, and work/life harmony being what we should seek. I get that and I feel that we try hard to find that harmony as a group at Oncam. It comes down to a combination of vision, culture and innovation focused around our main asset of people.
| Scott recommends leaving your smartphone behind when you go on vacation |
What are your interests, hobbies and passions outside security?
As I live in London away from my family, weekends are all about my wife and two children, Izzy (6) and Finlay (5). Family aside, I am equally happy reading the latest Jack Reacher, understanding how Apple reached the levels they did as a business or watching my beloved Manchester United trying to get back to our heady days of success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Where was your last vacation? Would you recommend it to others?
Our last few vacations have been to the Greek Isles and Ibiza. Rather than recommend a place, I’d recommend some traits I have introduced over the past few years, which include not even taking my iPhone on vacation. As I mentioned above, I seek a work/life harmony, so I strive to make my vacation all about my interaction with the family. As a result, technology takes a backseat and we get back to the basics of fun and interacting on a human level, making memories to last a lifetime.