Full Name: Dean Herbert Taylor
Position: CEO of Diamcor
Main Activity of the Company: Diamond mining
Date and Place of Birth: September 9, 1964, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada
Education: I tried civil engineering, but realised it was not for me. Experience is the best school, and risking your own money along the way is a big motivation for learning quickly
First Job: Paper route (2): 177 papers and 152 papers
Size of First Pay Packet: I cannot remember, but it was enough to teach me I could get what I wanted if I worked hard
Value of Assets under Your Control: $40-million market capitalisation and growing
Number of People under Your Leadership: About ten and they manage many more indirectly – hopefully, with the same respect and values I do with them
Management Style: Surround yourself with good people, expect results and reward your people when they achieve them; never respond or make a decision until you have thought it through
Personal Best Achievement: My wife and my daughter
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, my wife and my daughter, and the key people who work for me
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have to say the many lawyers, accountants and successful businesspeople who have taught me so much over 20 years
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bill Clinton
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Warren Buffett – I guess because he is self-made, with no real degrees, but, really, many businesspeople I know who have become successful through hard work and dedication
Philosophy of Life: Think positive, and positive things will happen
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Diamcor and the opportunities the future is sure to bring
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Losing my brother so early in his life to cancer
Hope for the Future: Business – economic stability and growth; personal – health, happiness and success for family, friends and employees
Favourite Reading: Currently many of the mining magazines and online publications to see what we are doing in comparison with others, and how others are doing things which are successful
Favourite TV Programme: BNN, CNN, Discovery, and I like to watch the final day of PGA and WGC events when I can
Favourite Food/Drink: Italian food/red wine
Favourite Music: Blues/modern
Favourite Sport: Hockey and golf
Hobbies: Golf and work
Car: BMWs
Pets: Two cats, Ricco and Romeo
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Lazy people, negative people and losing at anything
Married: To Linda for 20-plus years
Children: Alissa, 22
Clubs: Club captain at Gallaghers Canyon, Kelowna, for six years