A coffee with Chad Ripepi – Jayva’s Implementation Consultant

From the rural landscapes of New Zealand to the bustling streets of London, Chad Ripepi brings global experience, legal tech expertise and a serious passion for people to his role at Jayva.

As part of our APAC implementation team, Chad helps law firms get the most out of LEAP Legal Software by making complex processes simple, efficient and client-friendly. But it’s his friendly, people-first approach and love of connection that really sets him apart.

We caught up with Chad over a (strong!) flat white to chat about his journey, work philosophy, love for music and rugby, and why he believes relationships are the real key to success.

What’s your business/professional motto?

My motto is ‘Do things right or don’t do it at all’. It’s an ethos that’s been drilled into me and my brothers by our parents from a young age. My mum and dad lived by the same philosophy of never cutting corners or doing things by half.

I apply this to everything, whether it’s on the sports field, at work, cutting the lawn, whatever. Ultimately, if you don’t do the task properly first time, it’ll end up being more work in the end to fix it.

How do you make contacts which are useful for business?

I used to work for legal tech companies and attended conventions, both in the States and in the UK. These exhibitions and conferences are ideal for networking and building contacts. Also, when I lived in London, my office was in Tower Hill, near Tower Bridge. I made contacts with so many people from the same big office building from various industries.

Having lived all around the world, my home is now New Zealand. Due to the geography of the country, networking is a challenge as people are spread far and wide. As such, I mostly work from my home office with intermittent on-site visits. I find that bars and restaurants offer pretty good networking opportunities these days.

The connection aspect of my job, indeed any job, is what appeals to me more than anything. For instance, even after a client installation is complete, I maintain contact. I thrive on getting people on the ‘good side’ of the product and networking is an important aspect of this objective. Clients become my friends.

Which individual has inspired you the most in your business life and in what way?

By trade, my dad is an electrician. I sometimes used to go to work with him when I was a child. He actually launched his own electrical company with no knowledge of business in general. He demonstrated that you can do anything if you put in the hard work. The finish line is achievable.

My parents pushed me really hard to go to university. They taught me I needed a degree to open doors in my career. Honestly, if they hadn’t persuaded me, quite simply I wouldn’t be where I am now – as implementation consultant for the international training and consultancy business Jayva.

What’s your proudest achievement in business?

I’m proud of achieving my degree in marketing, and two diplomas in business management and communications. Having travelled extensively, I’ve massively increased my knowledge around the legal industry as well as learned about cultures and ways of working across regions. I’m proud, then, of my awareness of the nuances in how law is practised in multiple jurisdictions globally.

By way of background, I was brought up in South Africa, moved to New Zealand when I was eight years old, later lived in the UK to pursue my career goals including working with clients on the East Coast of America by travelling there from London, and I’m finally back in New Zealand which I class as ‘home’.

What do you think makes Jayva different?

Working for vendors of practice and case management software is very different to working for a service provider to these vendors. I suppose it seems a little like my role is more transitory, as I’m there to perform the installation, training or other tech-related assistance for a set period. So, I tend to spend an intense amount of time with clients, empower them to fly solo, hand over the reins and move onto the next client. It’s a different kind of interaction.

The skillsets at Jayva are growing continually. That’s because we’re expanding our catalogue of additional services all the time as we respond to marketplace demands. I’m learning quickly and developing new skills – for the benefit of our clients who can turn to Jayva for any of their support needs, from improving business processes, to setting up bespoke report templates, to rescuing projects that’ve gone awry.

What’s Jayva’s greatest asset?

People are a company’s intangible assets – and usually its greatest assets. That’s most definitely the case at Jayva. We use our skillsets to help when other team members are busy or unsure of how to action certain tasks. For example, in APAC, there’s Cathie Orgill, Olivia Amber Gwiazdzinski, Piet Bourke, Olivia Johnson and myself.

Cathie, Olivia Amber and I are experts in accounts management. Piet’s brilliant at precedents. Olivia Johnson’s organisation skills are second to none. Together, we leverage off each other, and tap into our diverse skills and knowledge.

I think it’s important to enjoy being around the people you work with. In the past, I’ve worked with and for not-very-nice people. At Jayva, it’s the people that keep me going and who make waking up and coming into work a joyful experience.

Clients are another of Jayva’s greatest assets. I love the customers we service. It’s very rewarding to see how these law firms interact with us initially, with some reticence as they’re averse to change even when their systems are bad, and later see how they’ve completely turned around, having been converted from a detractor into a promoter. It’s a great feeling to have a training room full of smiling people at the end of sessions. That’s when I know I’m doing my job correctly and loving what I do.

How does Jayva benefit from the unique skillset you bring to the business?

I’ve been in the legal tech space since 2018, originally employed by two practice and case management software vendors in two countries. My best asset is probably my smile and my best skill is being able to talk to clients without being awkward or shy.

On top of this, my experience and skills have matured over the years which means I’m extremely versatile. I understand the legal accounts side of things from an Australian, New Zealand, American and UK perspective, I’m proficient in precedent and document automation, I can train for any purpose from initial training to bookkeeper specific sessions, I’m capable in creating templates and precedents, you name it. In sum, I can wear many hats, depending on what the occasion necessitates.

Give one tip for a successful business.

The top thing any business owner should do is listen to his/her employees. I’m an empathetic and emotional person and, when I was a team leader at my previous employer, I made a concerted effort to reach out to my colleagues, seek their opinions, listen to what they said and act upon it. This can be as simple as saying ‘hello’ and asking how their day has gone.

Everyone should be prepared to assist team members and pick up the slack when needed. It’s all about connections, understanding others’ viewpoints and doing whatever needs to be done to service clients optimally. So, business owners must support their people too.

Do you dress up or down for business?

Overall, I’m a ‘dress up’ kind of guy. I believe in dressing for the part. If I’m dressed well, I look and feel the part. This primarily involves a smart shirt, trousers and shoes. But, I do insist on silly socks. This dress code applies to being on-site at clients’ premises and located in my home office alike. When I feel physically good, I feel mentally good.

I moved to the UK in 2020 then Covid lockdown happened and I got confined to my apartment. Even then, I needed to get out of my pyjamas and put on smart clothes, regardless of being full time at home.

Sometimes, I embrace the ‘casual Friday’ vibe and wear a polo shirt, jeans and bomber jacket. This everyday attire applies to the end of the week only.

If you hadn’t gone down your chosen career path, what would you be doing instead?

When you’re young, adults often ask what you want to be when you grow up. Answers are typically the generic ‘doctor’, ‘policeman’, ‘fireman’ type responses. I said ‘doctor’ enough times that I actually looked into it and decided I’d like to become a neurosurgeon as I wanted to help people. Aside from this, a professional rugby player would have been my ideal job. It was medicine or sports all the way.

What item(s) do you always have with you?

My phone, wallet, house-key and car-key come with me everywhere as they give me access to everything I need – my contacts, money, home and car. I carry a personal laptop too, which I use to produce my own music. So, should inspiration arrive, I can record soundbites onto my laptop.

I’ve been passionate about music from being a youngster. Music is one of the reasons I went to London and I’ve sat in a recording studio with the DJ, record producer and songwriter, Mark Ronson. It’s one of the most memorable and momentous moments in my life. I play the guitar and saxophone, and I’m self-taught on the piano.

At what time of day are you most creative or inspired?

My best creative moments happen right after lunch, at around 1.30pm to 2.00pm. At that stage of the day, I’ve sorted my admin, placed my ducks in a row, made a start on the day’s activities, eaten a good lunch and drank a few coffees.

I work well in darkness with my headphones on and my head down. When I’m in the zone, I can focus with pinpoint precision having a clearer mind and organised timetable.

When do you take your coffee break – morning, afternoon, evening? And where do you take it?

The time of my coffee break depends on what I’m doing. If I’m in the city or at client sites where coffee shops are close, I’ll go there to take a short break. I rarely stop for longer than five or ten minutes though – just enough time to relax briefly, gather my thoughts and prepare for the next tasks.

Working closely with clients, I force a slight pause as it allows them a chance to take a breather too. Otherwise, the training sessions can become overwhelming. Taking a break allows them to keep learning. It also enables connections – to chat and de-stress.

When I’m working from home, I tend to make a coffee to drink at my desk while scrolling through LinkedIn.

Espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, macchiato, flat white, frappe – what’s your coffee of choice?

I have two go-to coffees, the first is a long black coffee served cold or hot as an Americano. The other is a flat white – still fairly strong and not an overload of milk.

Who would you most like to have a coffee with?

One famous person I’d like a coffee with is the Springback rugby player, Brian Habana. He’s a true rugby legend and arguably the fastest player and greatest winger of all time. I played winger too, so he was an inspiration for me growing up.

Outside of rugby, I’d have a coffee with the late musician, Michael Jackson. His music fascinated and enthralled me. I’d grill him on his music making to comprehend how he compiled music.

How do you relax outside of work?

I have aspirations of starting to play rugby again, a sport I enjoyed as a child, but it’s difficult as I live in a rural area.

My relaxation time is currently spent taking drone footage, photography and cinematography. I visited South Africa last December, journeyed all over the country and took some amazing snapshots with my drone. It’s a real privilege to see the landscape from up high as it gives a totally different view of the world. When not working, I grab my drone and head outdoors with my dog to take footage on the paddocks where I live or the nearby beach.

Another pastime is cooking and my signature dish is chicken curry. Cooking is stress relief and creativity rolled into one – then shared with love.

What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read?

I’m a comic book fan, and I’ve read and re-read Asterix and Obelix. My parents have the old books which I occasionally dive into. From a professional standpoint, Jordan B Peterson’s book, 12 Rules of Life: An Antidote to Chaos, is a fabulous read as it contains useful life advice written in an accessible way.

I’ve read some of Tom Clancy’s thriller and military novels, and Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books – but I don’t class myself as a heavy reader.

What’s your favourite film?

I have two favourite films, the first being The Lion King. Its setting feels like home and I love the lessons is teaches too. Anything in life can be discussed through the lens of a Lion King quote.

The second is Bridge of Spies which is about a Russian spy in America during the Cold War. It gets right to the heart of the different lived experiences of the two main protagonists in their respective countries of Russia and America, and is a tale about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s strong stuff, and I like the tactical side of the film too – war and comradeship.

Craving another coffee?

Pull up a chair and get to know more of our incredible team in our other staff stories – featuring Liz Loane, Lorna Rose, Olivia Johnson, Jude Smith, Leanne Pearson, Jacqui Bettio, Piet Bourke, Will Penrice, Joe Sclafani, Chris Nelson, Viona Retkowska, Rosa Pelaez-Vinuela and Susan Rodgers. Each brew comes with a fresh perspective.