I’ve spent most of my career in big corporates, and then moved to consultancy/advisory, board roles and fintech as a founder, not forgetting juggling a family too. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there’s no single ‘better’ path. Each has shaped me in ways I could never have predicted. I don’t believe there is ‘the way to do it’… life is complicated, and you need to adapt along the way.
Corporate life: the foundation, the scars and the medals
16 years at HSBC gave me everything – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly awesome. It gave me opportunities, challenges and experiences that shaped the way I think and operate today. I learned the hard way, sometimes painfully, but I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.
Would I love to tell people what not to do? Absolutely. But the reality is, some lessons you just have to go through yourself. Knowing someone else has walked the path before you should help, but there’s no shortcut for experience.
What did I take away?
- Your network is everything. In massive organisations, success often hinges on who you know, how you connect and how you navigate internal dynamics.
- You can thrive in a big system – if you learn how to work it. I found it relatively easy to build relationships and make things happen in HSBC because I understood how to move through the structure.
- Corporate life rewards endurance and strategic patience. It teaches you to play the long game, influence at scale, and operate in complex ecosystems.
Then came Vanguard, and it changed everything. It was a completely different learning experience -one that gave me an edge I didn’t realise I needed. Unlike HSBC, where I built my network within, at Vanguard, I had to redefine how I operated. I couldn’t replicate the same approach, so I had to create a new way forward, leveraging what I knew while adapting to an entirely new environment.
The copter view: seeing business differently through board roles
Serving as a non-executive director (NED) has been a game-changer. It forced me to step back from the doing and take the copter view – seeing the broader landscape rather than just executing within it. Suddenly, I wasn’t in the trenches, but overseeing strategy, governance, and the long-term vision. And I love the continuous learning
It made me appreciate both the strengths and limitations of corporate life and helped me see where real transformation happens.
Fintech life: the ultimate test of resilience
Then came fintech. And wow I – thought I was resilient before, but this is a whole different level.
Fintech moves fast. There’s no safety net, no vast internal infrastructure to lean on. It’s about agility, ownership and relentless problem-solving. If you’re not adaptable, you won’t survive.
What have I learned?
- You learn more about yourself than ever before. There’s no hiding behind structure, process, or hierarchy – you are the process. You are the execution.
- Speed and execution beat perfection. Unlike corporate life, where decision-making can be slow and layered, in fintech, you move, adjust and iterate in real time.
- Resilience isn’t optional – it’s everything. Every day, you’re building something from nothing, often with limited resources. It’s an entirely different kind of challenge. That’s where I learned that running marathons is actually easier.
Would I be here without my corporate experience? No chance.
Do I look like a fintech founder? Most people don’t think so but…is there a mole we should adapt to? Isn’t diversity the beauty of entrepreneurship?
I don’t think I could have made it in fintech if I hadn’t gone through HSBC and Vanguard first. Reading about it isn’t the same as living it.
Corporate life gave me structure, strategy, and an understanding of how to navigate complexity. Fintech has pushed me to unlearn, relearn and redefine what’s possible.
Neither is better. Both are essential. And most importantly, I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.
Final thought: Build your own path
If I’ve learned one thing, it’s this: Your career isn’t about choosing one ‘better’ route – it’s about taking the best from each experience and making it your own.
Would love to hear from others. How has your career across different industries shaped you?
