PLAY WITH THE BEST AND YOU’LL BE FORCED TO RAISE YOUR GAME.
I didn't leave school at 15, nor have I been working in an investment bank for the last 20 years. I'm lucky enough to have worked in the blue chip world but I've also had my sleeves rolled up getting startups off the ground.
These unique skills mean that I can spend most of the day in a serviced office, helping a startup bulldoze its way through problems to get to the next level, then in the afternoon I can don a suit to negotiate with the latest city whiz kid to make sure we're not fleeced while we're raising capital or negotiating a sale.
Knowing every part of the business gives me an advantage in the world of startups. I know what it takes to get businesses up and running.
Prior to setting up on my own, this is what I did.
Education
I scored a double first in accounting and finance at the university of Western Australia, winning the university’s highest academic honour, the Hackett Scholarship. I also graduated with an MBA with distinction from the prestigous Ivy League Cornell University, where I was awarded the title Marshall of Program for being the student who demonstrated the highest level of academic and leadership ability.
The Bond Corporation
I cut my teeth working alongside one of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs – and national icons – Alan Bond, the first Non US citizen to win the America’s Cup. It was a cut throat environment where people either sank or swam – your ability to get deals was the only currency. Working for Bond was a roller coaster ride. Despite being just 29 a when the business collapsed, I was seconded to sit alongside some of the most respected business and professional figures in Australia to preside over a $13bn debt for equity swap.
McKinsey
I spent 3 years at the world’s most prestigious management consultancy. Working in the area of FMCG and retail, I honed my strategic and analytical skills and advised some of the world’s largest and most blue chip companies at board level. McKinsey drilled into me the core strategy consulting skills that are crucial to managing any business.
Virgin
I worked directly for Sir Richard Branson from his home in Holland Park. As Corporate Development Director, I was his right hand man, charged with spearheading all new Virgin ventures. Of the hundreds of business plans that landed on my desk, I had to identify, nurture and grow businesses, either selling or refinancing them for profit. After successes with Virgin Active, Virgin One and Virgin Vie, I left Sir Richard to make a fortune of my own.
Unilever
Directly after I left Virgin, Niall FitzGerald, The Unilever Chairman, was desperate for some startup ability in his organisation. Drawing heavily from my experience at Virgin I helped to create Unilever Ventures – a highly effective team working outside the bureacracy of day to day Unilever to fund and grow startups. Subsequently I partnered with some of their startups including Rocket Lifestyles – a unique food offerring ultimately sold to Threshers. During this time I sat along side Niall Fitzgerald on an internal new business panel reviewing world wide Unilever startup concepts.