EVER THE OPTIMIST

A self-described optimist, Superhero chief executive John Winters points to persistence as another driver of his success. He tells Karren Vergara why availability, affability and ability also matter.

- Karren Vergara

For as long as John Winters could remember, he always wanted to start his own business.

Before he went on to co-found one of the country's most popular trading platforms and growing superannuation funds, Winters was pulled into the world of stockbroking, confidently knowing not long after finishing high school that was where he wanted to cut his teeth.

Winters had his sights set on Shaw Stockbroking, now Shaw and Partners.

"I was given the details of the former chief executive of Shaw and Partners, who is now retired," he recalls.

"I called him and he said, 'I don't have a job for you but call me in two weeks' time'. So, I did and basically called him every week for about six months. He gave me a job because I think my persistence paid off."

He soon found himself in the stockbroking industry, working at Macquarie Bank and Shaw and Partners. In between, he also tried his hand as an investment and private wealth adviser.

Whilst working at Shaw and Partners, Winters was instrumental in listing Zip. He counts that experience as one of the highlights of his career, and one where an 'aha moment' hit.

"I worked with the Zip team, which only had four employees at the time it listed in 2015. It quickly grew to 400 employees. Many of the staff came to me asking to help them buy Zip shares because I was a broker," he says.

"That involved a legacy process that we still see across the market that uses paper account forms and requires a certified ID that had to be mailed."

It typically takes a few days to set up an account, which incurred high brokerage rates of between $120 to $135 as a minimum.

"The Zip staff that came to me were just starting out in their career, they were the same age as me in their 20s and 30s at the time. They told me, 'I don't have a lot of cash, but can I use my super to invest?," Winters says.