Six leadership lessons from entrepreneur Byron Dixon OBE CMgr CCMI

It was a pair of smelly football socks that changed the course of Byron Dixon OBE CMgr CCMI’s life. The chemist and entrepreneur had already developed a formula that prevented the accumulation of fungus, mould and bacteria. Perhaps it could also stop the spread of bacteria that causes sweat to smell? Testing the idea with his football teammates proved him right, and Micro-Fresh was born.

Today, Micro-Fresh technology is found in products from shoes to bedding to nursery products, stocked by retailers including John Lewis, Next and M&S. Byron has also expanded the business, which operates globally with offices in 12 countries, into the residential, construction and home improvement markets. The innovative technology Home-Fresh prevents the growth of mould and mildew in buildings.

A champion for small businesses, Byron is an expert advisor on the government’s Help to Grow: Management programme, which provides funded training for SME business owners, and chair of the Small Business Charter. He’s come a long way from the Leicester council estate he grew up on as a “bored but not bad kid”. 

As part of CMI’s Leadership Lounge series of events, Byron joined CMI chief executive Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI for a fireside chat about what he’s learned in his decades of entrepreneurial success. Here are six lessons he shared…

1. Hire experts and let them get on with it

As Micro-Fresh has grown, Byron’s leadership style has changed. He recognised that at heart he is an entrepreneur rather than a “business person”, meaning – he explained – that he most enjoys focusing on what he is good at. Being clear about his own strengths has shown him the value of employing experts and letting them get on with it.

As he put it: “If you join me in finance, then you tell me where we are making money.” His leadership style encourages everyone, at all levels, to contribute and welcomes discussion and debate.