ITB May 2026_FINAL - Flipbook - Page 17
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE
“Stay curious! Also go
out into the field and
listen and see what
is happening with
projects. That way,
you gain a much
better understanding
of your work and
any challenges.”
is listened to. It is an absolute privilege,
but the stakes are high in terms of the
data that we use to try and give our
point of view. It is not just ‘opinion
from Matt Yannopoulos’, but
well-informed by teams that
work in this institution to
provide that advice.”
As secretary of finance,
he leads a departmental team
of over 1800 employees.
Over time, Yannopoulos says
his leadership style has evolved
from being “directive” to “highly
collaborative”. Instead of telling
employees, “I know how to do
this, so just do it the way I say,”
his approach is now, “I can do
nothing without others.
“As the secretary of finance, I need
other secretaries, I need my minister
and I might need other ministers on
board,” he explains.
Does he need a bit of ego, too?
“You certainly need self-confidence,” says
Yannopoulos, who adds that good listening
skills are also an imperative, as “some of my
colleagues will be blunt with me and say,
‘We are not doing that, Matt’”.
On the job, core traits such as integrity
and curiosity are crucial, while trust is built
through honesty and maintaining respectful
relationships. “For me, it is always about
operating with integrity and being honest
about any challenges with your teams. I have
always been very lucky that the teams that
I have worked with love a challenge.”
Risk management matters too, but it
is about being practical, not theoretical.
Yannopoulos focuses on understanding
what could go wrong, what he can tolerate
and how to mitigate what he cannot.
Rather than rigid processes, he values honest
management conversations about real
concerns. When risks visibly guide decisions,
governance feels useful, purposeful
and clearly linked to delivering outcomes
for teams and stakeholders.
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