Richard Savoie is the Co-Founder of Adiona Tech, a Sydney based software company powering efficient deliveries for some of the world’s biggest brands.
Let’s start with your background! Can you share with us your career journey and what you’re currently up to?
I have a background in engineering, but I’ve always had a passion for sustainability. I’ve tried to use these engineering skills to solve problems I see in the world and hopefully leave it in a better shape for my son.
Today, I’m the co-founder and CEO of Adiona Tech, a Sydney based software company powering efficient deliveries for some of the world’s biggest brands – such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. We make the supply chain more sustainable by optimising delivery routes, reducing fleet emissions, and helping companies transition to EVs.
We’d love to know what a typical day is like for you. Could you describe a recent workday?
My workday can vary a lot, and so do my hours. I currently spend most of my time in sales calls, doing demos, or speaking with investors and partners. Because we do so much work in North America, I need ways to manage the different time zones. I batch things together whenever possible. 2-3 days a week will be American days, where I work late and fill my diary with overseas calls. On the other days, I get to spend extra time with my wife and son, run errands and go to the gym – which keeps me alive and gives me a chance to listen to an ebook.
Can you define work-life balance for yourself and share with us your approach to maintaining it?
I try to plan ahead for absolutely everything. I take the approach that, if it’s not in my calendar, it doesn’t exist. This is how I reduce the cognitive load that can overwhelm founders otherwise. I use the Eisenhower box method to tackle tasks based on their importance and urgency, and add them to my calendar. If they are not important, and not urgent, they don’t make it into my calendar. As far as I’m concerned, they don’t exist.
Change is constant, and it’s essential for growth. Have you made any lifestyle changes in the past year to improve your work-life balance?
Hiring an executive assistant was the best thing I ever did, and I should have done it much sooner. It’s an important hire, and I would encourage founders to look for someone who is the best cultural fit within the company. They sit at the centre of everything, so it’s important that they get on with the whole team.
AI has also been a big time saver this year. Training an MLM for tasks like data processing and legal reviews has been a revelation.
We’re always on the lookout for new resources! Can you recommend any books, podcasts, or newsletters that have helped you in your journey towards balance?
Phil Hayes-St Clair’s newsletter is one of my favourite things to read. He has a human-first way of understanding business, and recognises that money shouldn’t be the only motivation.
Before we wrap up, do you have any final words of wisdom or insights on work, life, or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
I won’t profess to be wise, but I know what works for me. I don’t want to have a work/life balance that keeps the two things totally separate. Work is a part of life. Rather than keep my work away from my life, I try to view business from a humanist way. I surround myself with the right people, and the business is always focused on human impact. That’s the best way to enjoy work and find real balance.
