Sharpsmart Spotlight: Guy Wing

From wedding day Elvis impersonations to moving to China following a rather suspicious job advertisement on an online forum, this ‘Guy’ has had some unique experiences…

We would like to take a moment to shine the spotlight on Sharpsmart’s Mandarin-speaking sustainability expert and math enthusiast, Contract Manager Guy Wing.

Who Is Sharpsmart’s King of Rock and Roll? 

Guy’s Sharpsmart journey began in October 2020, and in his own words, it’s because he “wanted to be on the winning team”. Having seen our Sharpsmart reusable containers in use in a hospital, compared to what had been used previously, he was certain this was a company that would enable him to make a significant impact in supporting the NHS.

Guy breaks his week into two parts. Part one involves spending three days at customer sites, auditing, conducting training sessions or engaging in meetings to scope out new projects. The remaining days are spent in the office, used for internal meetings, administrative work, preparing presentations, or working on other projects, such as our Route to Net Zero.

He also uses three early mornings for exercise classes, as keeping fit is high up on the agenda.

Speaking of keeping fit, Guy is an avid mountain biker, and at least once a week, he’s out traversing steep hills and rough terrain. He has even competed in several races, which is something he hopes to improve on this year.

On a rather unexpected note, Guy is also a member of his local bowls club, and despite being a few decades younger than the average demographic, he enjoys the occasional summer session on the lawn.

And as a final fun fact, he dressed as Elvis on his wedding day. Not because he’s a big fan, but because he thought it’d be a fun thing to do. It certainly brought the wedding album to life (thank you very much).

But that’s enough from us – now that you have an idea of who Guy Wing is, let’s hear about his Sharpsmart experience directly from him, before he gets all shook up…

What were your first impressions of Sharpsmart?

I immediately saw an enthusiastic company that encouraged an entrepreneurial spirit, with great ideas coming from all over. It seemed like everyone was innovating, or believed that if they did, their ideas would be entertained.

It was also clear from the start that everyone working here is immensely proud of the company. They’re not just employees, they’re genuine fans of the products and services we offer.

What do you enjoy most about working for Sharpsmart?

I enjoy meeting people from diverse backgrounds. Hospitals are like mini-cities, and a large part of my job is spent talking to people within the hospital environment and building relationships with people of all sorts.

I love being able to talk to different people and get to know them, and it’s not just talking for the sake of speaking. My job is made easier by truly understanding their working lives and the challenges they face daily with clinical and operational practices.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned over your career?

It’s all about people. You can have the biggest brain and all the knowledge in the world, but if people don’t enjoy your company or like working with you, then your expertise will fall on deaf ears – you need to always bring people along on the journey with you.

What’s the most fulfilling thing you’ve done with Sharpsmart?

Introducing the Sharpsmart reusable sharps system to my hometown of Surrey and Sussex, and my adopted town of Bristol!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve been asked to do whilst on the job?

It’s hard to think of one, but something quite unexpected was being asked to conduct a pre-acceptance audit at a university laboratory. Geographically, it was a real pain to get to.

What does growth look like for you?

Creating value. By that, I mean building expertise and experience that helps others, such as our customers in the NHS – this is something everyone can do, regardless of their role.

How would you describe the culture at Sharpsmart?

There’s a culture here of unlimited growth potential for anyone willing to take responsibility for learning a new skill and asking for a new opportunity – this is a company that will match your talents to the right-fit role within the organisation.

Everybody here is prepared to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, too, which explains why we have so much charisma within the company.

If you could dispel one myth about the healthcare waste industry, what would that be?

I’m going to go against the grain a little here and say that I don’t think Sharpsmart is part of the healthcare waste industry…

We’re a safety and sustainability company that operates within the hospital and healthcare environment.

What advice would you give someone looking for a career with Sharpsmart?

Be prepared to work hard and bring along a can-do attitude, and you’ll be able to achieve whatever you want in this company.

The people who have done well in the time I’ve been here have come from many different backgrounds, but the one thing they all have in common is willingness, persistence, and a can-do attitude.

If you were abandoned on a desert island, which three Sharpsmart colleagues would you want with you?

I’d go for Josh Glover for 2 reasons. First, he’s an ex-chef, so he will be cooking a feast from the ingredients we forage. Secondly, as the content writer for Sharpsmart, he’s very well-read, so we won’t run out of conversation quickly.

Dwayne Alexander, he’d be the antidote to Chris and keep us sane. He’s also a pescatarian, so he should be good at fishing. In theory…

Terence Smit, he’ll be great on a barbecue (cooking it, not being cooked), and he’s a genuinely nice guy who’s easy to get along with.

Bonus Question: What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done, whether at work or in your personal life?

I moved to China and lived in a city of a million people with only one other non-native person. I was supposed to be teaching English after finding a job advert on an online forum, but the guy didn’t have a school. He just drove me around town trying to hire me out to schools.

I eventually found work with a lady who ran a kindergarten, and it came with accommodation, but on my first day at work, I made all the kids cry because they’d never seen someone with blue eyes before.

Join Our Pride! 

Are you considering an exciting new career with an innovative company that provides a platform for growth and development?

If you are, and you’d also like to be a part of making healthcare safer and more sustainable, you’ll fit in nicely with the Sharpsmart pride.