“Andy, you have leukaemia…”

Time to read: 3 Minutes

“Andy, you have leukaemia…”

In September 2011 these were the words told to Andy Isherwood – Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Hewlett Packard UK and Ireland. He had cancer, and he could very well die.

“We all think we are invincible until something hits you, and when it does, we all deal with it in a different way.” Andy tells me, and after he told me how he dealt with it, I knew I had to feature him in a NL Weekly. I asked Andy to summarise what he thought in that moment, what he decided he was going to do about it and what I and others can learn from his experience:

After I heard the doctor’s words, I asked myself – ‘what’s the best outcome that can happen, and what is the worst?’ The best was to remove the cancer the second was death. OK, so what do I need to do to stay alive? What team do I need to put together to ensure that is achieved, and to also make sure that my area of HP can run without me. I knew a positive mentality was critical, and so I set about knowing – not simply believing – that all would be well. I sat down with the medical specialist and we decided on the plan that would give me the maximum chance of living. I simply didn’t have time to go through the ‘change curve’ and do denial – our CEO Meg Whitman has a phrase – ‘run to the fire’ – confront your very biggest issues – and that is where I ran.

It is extraordinary what we have within us when we really need it. I knew that people would feel sorry for me, and whisper in quiet corners – I had no time for any of that, or for any low points. My wife, doctor and I became Project Managers like never before.

• Have a very strong informal network around you at all times – family, friends and work colleagues. People you can be there for when they need you, and vice versa.
• Spend time with people you lead – and know – for no other reason than simply being with them – listening and chatting. I did a lot of this over those 8 months, because I had to. Now I do it, because I choose to.
• Grow great leaders from the people who work with and for you, and be proud of them, not jealous, when they overtake you on their way to achieving their ambitions.

Andy is a long-time friend, and I hope his reaction to those four words in the heading help you as much as they have helped and inspired me.

Thank you Andy

With my love and best wishes

David x

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