I grew up in Gisborne, New Zealand, a small town on the East Coast of the North Island. A great spot with everything on your doorstep; beaches, golf courses, great coffee and an epic local brewery. If anyone is planning a tour it’s definitely worth the car trip down, especially in the summer months.

I’ve always enjoyed team sports, especially in a social setting playing cricket, club rugby, basketball and even Australian Rules for a period. Team sports have shaped who I am in a professional perspective, taking ideas of belonging, clear communication and a healthy level of competitiveness, and bringing them to my roles.

I started at Guru Systems in January this year as the new Head of Product. I came into the role feeling refreshed after being lucky enough to spend the majority of last year travelling along the Mediterranean, exploring local swimming holes and hiking trails. Previously, I led a range of Product teams at one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing start-ups, Halter. Halter also used IOT devices but instead of fixed devices in buildings, they were collars on moving cows. Before that, I led the safety function for the Australia and New Zealand regions at an international ride-sharing company, DiDi.

Guru stood out to me due to the clear mission of the company; to accelerate the decarbonisation of heat by providing data and technology to make energy systems more transparent, lower cost and lower carbon.

~⅓ of the UK’s carbon emissions come from heat, and the UK must eliminate 100% of carbon emissions by 2050. A gnarly challenge.

High performance heat networks play a fundamental role in meeting this decarbonisation target. At Guru, we have found that a lot of heat networks don’t perform anywhere near intended efficiency and even if they were previously, if left unmonitored inefficiencies can double in a few years.

How does Guru help? We develop IOT devices that make heat and other utilities consumption and performance data available. We then take this available data, either from our devices or other means, and create software tools for various users to manage resident billing and network performance.

It’s clear to me that this mission runs deep in the company and that’s led by Casey, our CEO, who makes me want to run through walls to have an impact. He is truly passionate about the why behind the company, something he has in common with my previous CEO, Craig at Halter.

My goals at Guru Systems are to deliver great products and features consistently to our users, and to ensure those products and features directly impact our business outcomes and core mission. I’m also lucky enough to be included in a People team that focuses on driving engagement and culture adoption within the company.

My future goals have me based back in Aotearoa, to have an impact on my community back home, and to help that community have an impact on the world. But, for now, you can find me at Guru Systems, trying to solve one of the hardest problems our generation has to face, reducing the world’s carbon footprint.

If you’re a business or individual who wants to make an impact, please reach out. I’m happy to chat.

The post Getting to know our head of product: Tyler Phelps appeared first on Guru Systems.

A little cliche but I would call myself an extrovert. I’ve always loved actively speaking to and being around people. Growing up, my parents always said I was too friendly and only focused on my friendships. I loved it though, it made everything so much more fun.

Background

Growing up I found myself interested in how people acted and why they acted the way they do from a young. This led me to study Psychology which became such a passion for me. It may have helped me with how I interact with people but it also has given me such perspective to just be patient and kind with people.
My happy place is spending time with friends and family. My hobbies are travelling, watching movies, and being the best foodie ever! I will always say yes to trying out a new restaurant. I also love being active.
I have always been active since young and I love swimming and rock climbing. I’ve now joined a hiking group to find a new love of the outdoors.

Guru Career

I first started working at 16 during sixth form. It was a retail job and I ended up in retail for the next 6 years while in education. It gave me independence, responsibility, and the skill of networking. I found many of my part-time jobs through friends/ coworkers I had made previously. I was also able to build the courage to commit to a routine as a young adult and develop my skills in the world of work. Not many people say they enjoyed working in retail, however because of all the amazing coworkers I’ve met over the years (some of whom I’m friends with to this day) I will always be grateful for the lessons and experiences I’ve learned from working in retail.

Current Role

After graduating I had an early twenties crisis, I loved psychology but I also wanted to figure out what I wanted to do. I was seeking roles that I could be competitive in and also work with different people. I then found myself working in the heat network space with Guru! Learning about Heat networks was a degree in itself! It was a whole new world of knowledge to me. Even though I am still new to the industry and at the start of my career, I am enjoying the journey.

Future Goals

I hope to continue to keep learning and growing, I’m focused on hitting all my targets set! As a typical salesperson, I’m driven to keep smashing it.
I hope to continue learning and growing, focused on hitting all my targets set. As a driven salesperson, I’m determined to keep smashing it. Networking and building strong professional relationships will be a key priority, as I seek to expand my knowledge and gain invaluable insights. I also want to explore more countries and meet new people as relationships are not only an important part of my role but also an important part of life.

Contact details

Fatima.abdi@gurusystems.com
Work number: 07749498676
LinkedIn

The post Fatima Abdi: Outgoing Psychology Graduate in Heat Networks appeared first on Guru Systems.

14 years ago I hit the restart button on my life. Personally and professionally everything changed. I went from being an at-home mum of 3 to restarting a career and growing into the successful person my 12-year-old self had always dreamed of becoming. Now I say this with humour as those of you who know me understand you never stop being a mum – it’s endless and often thankless, especially when the kids are young and demand all your attention. But regardless, I pushed through and looking back it has been an amazing 14 years. I often find myself looking in the mirror wondering just how I’ve managed to stay looking so fresh-faced and young despite the stress and pressure of it all…(not!)

Background

I grew up in a traditional, but in hindsight not so traditional, Greek family. I was the princess – literally the youngest sibling, the youngest cousin, and I always got my way or threw a tantrum until I did. At 10 my home life changed; my princess status was stripped away and I had to learn to function and find my way again. What a shock to the system that was! I can tell you now it was not handled gracefully at all.

At 12 I wanted to be a lawyer. I was going to serve the justice system and be amazing at it. Then, a few years later, I discovered other interests – much more of a social butterfly and less focused on a career or what I would be when I was old because, hey, at 15 I was already grown up, right?! Anyway, long story short, I ended up in hospitality, managed a high-class bistro in Chiswick, ran a pub in Wembley, and then somehow ended up in a sales role at a national distribution company for the HEVAC market. Little did I know at 19 this would be the industry where 11 years later I would re-enter and build a foundation for where I am today.

Guru Role 

Just before I started this role  I was asked (by a couple of close friends…who are supposed to be my friends anyway!) how on earth little old me landed a role as Sales Director for Guru Systems. Well, the next question was “Who are Guru Systems?” At first, I was like, uhmm… I don’t know, but Guru is a great company, a specialist in data analysis and software, and truth be told, since working in the heat network industry they have been on my radar as a company I’d love to join one day. That seemed to answer their question but then got me wondering, how have I, in 14 years, gone from working in a small distribution company branch to now reporting to the CEO of a London-based software business?

I thought back to 12-year-old Soulla and remembered how much I wanted to be successful. I realised that even though I thought she was gone forever, somewhere she has lived on and driven me forward to achieve her goals. Don’t get me wrong, there have been many challenges along the way so many obstacles to overcome, and sacrifices made. I may have been down for periods but I never gave up and always found a way to be and do better. So in answer to how little old me got the Sales Director role at Guru Systems, it’s simple – I worked hard for it.

I am still in month 1 of this role and I am encouraged and excited by the buzz within the business to deliver on transparency of Data and a combined thought leadership approach to the energy sector. I guess at this point it’s hard to say what my day-to-day responsibilities become but what I do know and can 100% guarantee is that I will follow through on the mantra of transparency, honesty and communication to build solid foundations and relationships with our clients and partners.

Working for a company like Guru whose main objective is to drive sustainability in the energy sector aligns with my moral compass of wanting to create a greener, cleaner environment for myself, my family and the generations that will follow us.

I am keen to explore the unknown and unwrap the potential that real-time data and analytics have to offer the energy sector, not only within District Energy but as a source of knowledge and information to drive policy, regulation and best practice in the drive to a Net zero world.

Personal Interests

I am massively family-oriented. My boys, or should I call them men now as they are far bigger than me, are my absolute world. I share time with each of them individually, doing what makes them happy. In general, the eldest is centred around drinking but that’s a small price to pay when he comes home from uni, and with the youngest, our activities revolve around rugby, either me freezing while watching him play or going together to watch Saracens, and more recently crying together when England lost the semi-finals in the World Cup.

I like to stay active by running, going to the gym, weight lifting (only recently), and taking part in at least one physical challenge per year. 2024 is the year of the 20-mile Tough Mudder – wish me luck! I have a 3-year-old boxer dog called Thor who takes up any spare time I might have left by needing walks, cleaning up after, and generally just following me around and tripping me up all day long.

Future Goals

My main goal right now is to help my boys go on to become the best versions of themselves they can be. They make their own decisions but I like to think they take my guidance and advice on board. Professionally, my ambition is to drive Guru Systems to the number one spot in the industry, providing our customers with the very best products and services to help them achieve their sustainability targets, and in turn, creating a better world for us all to live in and enjoy.

Contact details

• Soulla.paphitis@gurusystems.com
• 07749 498 679
• Linkedin

The post Get to know Soulla Paphitis: Sales Director appeared first on Guru Systems.