FT Start-Up Stories Series 2: The surfing cure 9/10
Apr 25, 2016
Richard Walton, founder of GVI and a former Londoner, shares his journey from a health scare to living in Costa Rica for surfing and remote work. He reveals how he maintained global teams via technology while embracing a healthier lifestyle. Walton discusses the joy and challenges of inviting his team to Costa Rica and the eventual decision to move operations to Cape Town for stability and talent. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, fitness, and networking in entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons on work-life balance.
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Move Triggered By A Health Scare
- Richard Walton moved to Costa Rica with his young family after a doctor warned his lifestyle would kill him by 50.
- He learned to surf, got fit, and ran his global business remotely via Skype and strict systems.
Running A Global Team Remotely
- Richard describes the practical challenges of remote leadership from Costa Rica, including dial-up internet and time-zone coordination.
- He flew and later moved core team members to Costa Rica, which improved idea-sharing and doubled the business despite difficulties.
Bringing The Team Together
- Richard recalls bringing his core team to Costa Rica and later moving many staff there, which created some of his happiest years.
- He valued in-person brainstorming and said having the team together improved business operations and morale.