From Mountain Bikes to Market Momentum

In our latest edition of “People. Without Compromise”, we speak to Dom, Global Head of Markets at Zodia Custody, about the habits that shape how he operates, what keeps him motivated and the importance of curiosity.

Hi Dom, what don’t you compromise on?

By our nature humans are very sociable creatures, and I really value community – whether personal or professional, I always try to take the time to build and maintain new and existing relationships.

I also thrive in environments that demand full focus. Participating in extreme sports is a good example, because preparation is key and decisions made in the moment can be make-or-break, so I have to be totally focused on what I’m doing.

Lastly, precision engineering. I’ve always been fascinated by aviation and motorsport, the combination of human and machines and the constant push for more: higher performance, faster cars and a push to the limits of technology.

What is it about maintaining relationships that’s so important to you?

In this industry, you work very closely with the same people over long periods of time. When situations move quickly and there’s no perfect answer, you rely heavily on those around you, which makes trust essential. It’s in those moments where you discover whether those relationships can stand up under pressure.

Conversations can fall apart because someone is already thinking about what they want to say next, rather than paying attention to what is actually being said. Taking a moment to listen and respond to the person in front of you means working relationships tend to be stronger and hold up far better under pressure.

You talk a lot about trust being built under pressure. Where did that come from?

I used to race downhill mountain bikes. Downhill racing is not something you do alone – it’s a team sport. You train together, travel together, and depend on the same small group of people for preparation, equipment, logistics and safety.

When something goes wrong – an injury, crash, or mechanical issue – everyone has a role to play. You see very quickly who communicates clearly, who stays calm, and who looks out for others. That is where trust is built, through shared responsibility.

How does participating in extreme sports shape how you think?

In those environments, focus is not optional. Working in fast-moving industries, you rarely switch off. You’re constantly processing information, thinking ahead, or reacting to change. Taking part in extreme sports forces me to step away from that completely and gets me out of my comfort zone.

Whether I’m mountain biking, snowboarding or skydiving, for a short time I can’t think about anything else. The margin for error is small, so preparation, judgement and decision making really matter. I really value that enforced presence and rely on it for chance to mentally reset.

Do you still step outside your comfort zone today?

I try to. I only recently started learning Arabic, even after moving to the Middle East earlier in my career and being connected to the region for years. I previously never fully studied the language so starting from scratch has been uncomfortable at times, but I think it’s so important to try new things at different points throughout your life. I know for me it keeps me curious and prevents me from becoming complacent.

Where does that curiosity come from?

I’ve always had a fascination with aviation and motorsport, and a natural curiosity about how complex machines work. Aircraft and high-performance race cars operate in environments where there is very little margin for error, which means the systems behind them have to be precise and constantly refined. When you look closely at the engineering, the processes, the constant testing and refinement, you see how much effort goes into making things better, safer and more efficient.

Systems are reviewed, challenged and improved continuously, with a clear focus on achieving better performance. Nothing is taken for granted and how those desired outcomes are achieved has always been what interests me most.

What keeps you grounded?

It comes back to preparation and consistency. You can’t control everything – whether it’s a race, a market, or a machine but you can control how prepared you are. Over time, I’ve learned that most pressure comes from uncertainty. If you’ve done the work the pressure lessens and will become easier to manage.