Industry Insider returns as we sit down with Jack Sullivan to talk all things West Ham United and life in business. Jack became the managing director of West Ham Women’s team at just age 17 and has since gone to become a director and an entrepreneur and investor.
Tell us about yourself, what is your current role and what roles have you done previously?
I try and keep pretty busy! Currently I’m an active investor in a few businesses, Supply Life which is the UK’s best-rated food intolerance test, helping people find out what foods are best for their body, Techfueld an automotive tech recruitment company, a care home group and I own a small property company. Alongside also being a director at West Ham. before investing in business and becoming a director of West Ham, I was managing director of the West Ham Women’s team which I ran for 4 years from the age of 17.
What do you do in your current role?
My role from business to business changes and depends when and where I am needed! For example, Supply Life was my very first investment. When I joined it was a start up and we have grown dramatically, helping over 20,000 customers last year. As it was my first investment I am very hands on with the day to day running and seeing it grow its become my baby.
Techfueld, I sit in the office once or twice a week. My friend is the founder and it was the first time he has ever ran a business so I am just on hand to help with a bit of guidance and give a bit of input, but he’s doing a brilliant job alongside his co-founder.
West ham and the care home group, these are family investments, so my father is a bit more hands on in these however if and when I’m needed and called upon I always jump on the challenge, especially the football as it’s a really passion for me. There is no other business like it!
I am always looking for new investments and opportunities and I just really love learning on the job and watching things grow. I know I’m not going to get everything right, but if we can get 80% right and learn from the other 20% then I think we will be doing okay and that’s the plan. That’s why I love investing in young founders as we are all in the same boat of learning together!
“Normal” isn’t a thing in sport so what does an “average” week look like for you?
I will use this week as an example as you say with sport being mixed in no week is the same and normally in my week will involve some form of football! On Monday I got back from Germany after watching the euro’s final cheering on England and our very own Jarrod Bowen, as well as supporting our former player, Declan rice. On Monday I travelled back to UK feeling slightly hungover, but still trying to catch up on emails and calls. On Tuesday Supply Life launched its new website which was pretty exciting but all day we worked with our coder and designer to make any last min changes.
Wednesday I have a few zoom calls including with Ricky, the founder of Supply Life about how we can push the business forward. We always have one meeting a week and we make a check list of what needs to be done. Although we speak 5 times a day having this meeting gives the business and us real focus on the week ahead we feel. We also had Zooms with our head of email and our affiliate agency. I personally also spoke to a founder of a business who was looking for investment. I also had some great news about a new project I’m working on which is exciting.
Thursday I’ve had a day in the Techfueld office to catch up with the staff and the founders, alongside also catching up with the property company team. Friday I’ve got a few zooms but to be honest it is a little slow, but basically just trying to get any work finished before the end of the week. I try to fit in some time for exercise during the week and the plan is to go at least 3 times, I know a lot of people say it but I really feel it gives me a spring in my step and a level of focus.
Saturday I will be watching West Ham’s second pre season game against Dagenham and Redbridge.
How do you balance your responsibilities between the different roles you have?
It’s all about prioritising what’s important and where you are needed. What is going to have the biggest effect and just to work though a list of priorities. Although sometimes you need to think with your head too, where’s going to be the best place to be, not always the funniest! BUT, I also think it’s important to mix in having fun too whilst you work. Aometimes the most important jobs can be the boring ones but its important to do them and not just kick them down the line!
You’ve grown up in the world of football, what lessons have you taken into your new business and investments?
Football can be very unpredictable like business, its not always what you expect however normally it is! Something else I’ve learnt from football is not always the most expensive options are the best, sometimes it is but not always! I’ve also learnt from football to never celebrate the highs too high and never get too low with the lows. Try and keep a level head and make unemotional decisions if possible, but that can be hard!
What is your number one focus when it comes to your work?
For me it’s all about growing stuff and making things better but by doing it in a sustainable fashion. As soon as you can’t do anymore then sometimes its time to walk away and your job is done! Time to hand over the reins to someone else. You might have built the house, but sometimes it needs an extension and redecorating! I find the idea of watching a business grow and seeing what ideas work and don’t work really exciting.
You’re still very early into your career, but what are some important lessons you’ve learned so far?
I think to trust your gut, we have personally a few times been tricked by big agencies who promised the world and haven’t performed, I think normally if someone backs themselves and knows they will do a good job, they will do. I think something else is learning how to maximise opportunities, if something is working keep doing it!
What challenges does having Dyslexia present in your work life? And how have you overcome them?
I’ll be honest apart from taking a bit longer to read things, I think in the modern world very very little! Spell check is a life saver and if you ever can’t read a word you can Google it, there are so many options now! I think it’s given me the ability to work hard as I had to at school and it’s just become normal to me now.
How did you end up where you are right now? When did you know you wanted to work in sport?
From a young age my father has always owned a football club starting with Birmingham City and then West Ham when I was 9 years old. I fell in love with football when I was 6 years old watching the 2006 World Cup, I think the whole event made me love it, I couldn’t believe the drama. After that I’ve always travelled up and down the country with my Dad watching.
I left school when I was 16 as I didn’t want to go to university, I was ready to work and I was lucky enough I could go and work at West Ham (my dream job). I did a year of work experience at the club, worked everywhere from the warehouse packing Christmas jumpers up and moving boxes, working in the ticket office, to working at the training grounds and seeing how the academy and first team worked. After a year I sat down with my dad and said I wanted a project and I thought the women’s team would be perfect, luckily he agreed and after just one season we turned the team from semi professional to professional and got promoted into the WSL. A year later we reached the FA cup final. We continued to grow the team but after another 2 years I felt that it was time for someone else to take the reins as I wanted to go and develop my business skills outside of football. A year later I was offered to become a West Ham director alongside working on my other business, which of course was an amazing opportunity and impossible to turn down.
What are you excited about in your industry at the moment?
There’s a lot to be excited about at West Ham. We are close to another season starting where we will be in the hunt again for hopefully another good finish with a new manager and in my other businesses, they are in sectors that continue to grow and innovate.
If you could change one thing about your Industry, what would you change?
This is a great question! It depends of each business. In recruitment for example there is a perception that all recruiters are pests, when actually some are, but not the good ones, they can actually help a company! In football, I would probably change the greed! There is a lot of greed in the game and I think it sometimes holds the sport back.
If you were to give a piece of advice to someone wanting to do your role, what would you say?
Do it! No time like the present! However, try and get good people around you and people who can give you good advice! This helps and stops you wasting a lot of time and money! Also don’t overcomplicate stuff, I see a lot of entrepreneurs run before they can walk, they overcomplicate stuff. It’s best to keep things small and simple and grow slowly and sustainably.
Any social links you want to plug?
I’d love to plug my social haha! @jsullivanwhu on Instagram and X. I’d also love to plug Supply Life’s Instagram and www.supplylife.com for if anyone is suffering from bloating, ibs, energy dips after eating and lastly Techfueld www.techfueld.com.
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