Steve Murray
Business Advisor, Coach, Non-executive Director
MInstD
Steve Murray has 30 years of hands-on experience as a business owner and business advisor in the Waikato.
Owner-operators looking to bring some structure to their business will benefit from working with Steve. He has proven success in helping owners build their business while finding the balance between growth, profitability and having a life.
Steve has assisted hundreds of business owners to take their business to the next level. He often helps to set up an advisory board. These promote understanding of future possibilities and what the business needs to grow and develop. Steve brings vast experience in culture and people development, ensuring there are both a clear vision and purpose to base future decisions around.
An advisory board specialist. Steve currently sits on a number of advisory boards covering a wide variety of industries. These include rural services, import and distribution, global software development, waste management and minimisation and Maori social enterprise.
Steve has served as a past director on the Advantage Business board for five years.
Personal Profile
Steve Murray loves working with owners of SME businesses. They make up such a large proportion of NZ’s business community but often struggle to succeed. In his experience, owners are amazing technicians. But not all will have every skill required to manage the business to its full potential. Developing a business can be hugely stressful. That’s why Steve finds helping to work through these challenges so rewarding.
Steve has been self-employed since the late 1980s. He has first-hand experience of success and failure with his enterprises. It is these experiences that enable him to successfully work alongside owners. He can call on his own learnings, having trodden the same path.
Industry experience
- International trade
- Import and distribution
- Manufacturing
- Specialist retail
- Engineering
- IT development
- Rural services
- Waste management and minimisation
Interests
Steve loves old and classic cars (he’s owned 42 vehicles in 45 years).
He’s passionate about music and esoteric hi-fi equipment. Steve’s large collection of music (on vinyl, cd, cassette and digital) includes Frank Zappa to Philip Glass and a bit of everything in between.
Steve Murray
Articles & Blogs
A Few Words From Steve's Clients
Having Steve as an advisor over the last 4 years has honestly been one of the very best things we've ever done in our business. He consistently asks the right questions, applies his experience to our situations and generally simplifies the complexity of business.Jamie Moore - Webspring
We engaged with Steve to become a member of our Advisory Board to our business The Marketing Company for over a year. In the time Steve was on our Advisory Board he always contributed positively with his in-depth knowledge of business and can-do attitude. Steve helped us implement systems and turn our business form a small local business to a national company. Steve has a great understanding of Joint Ventures and Governance among his skill set and we still use Steve as a sounding board for many decisions we make. I would recommend Steve to any business who is looking to innovate and grow. Jo Blowfield - The Marketing Company
Steve is great at getting you to think outside your normal thought pattern, to question the why and because of that make exceptional improvements.Debbie Vickers - Mbar
Starting Mbar Ltd was easy but keeping it going was not so easy and when you are the owner it is a lonely place. We got involved with Steve through what is now Opportunity Hamilton, via a training course, then Steve came on board as our business coach. Steve had the ability to look at the figures and what we were doing and then give sound advice. Often it was just the belief in what we were doing. You have done the correct procedures put the correct things in place now just do the work. Self-doubt can be a killer!! We have continued to see each other and have the sort of relationship that if either party wants help with something that we are only too happy to give it to each other. Paul Vickers - Mbar
Steve is simply an outstanding human and businessman. He demonstrates first hand what it is to build a business based on true core personal values. His selfless contribution to others is remarkable. He inspires others to better live by their values, while also inspiring businesses to be run for the right reasons. My respect for Steve is limitless.Ambrose Blowfield THE Marketing Company