I am often asked what a “portfolio” career is and why I have chosen this path after full-time roles. Reflecting on the last month, the variety of activity provides my main answer. I love learning, thinking and being able to join-the-dots. This helps me to be effective across several organisations in different sectors.
Here’s a taste of what I got up to last month across commodities markets, finance, science and agriculture, and the education sectors.
Sustainability – agriculture industry roundtable about natural capital, data and technology; networking across innovators in carbon project financing and verification; B-corp readiness; positioning a sustainability product offering;
Performance – period review and objectives discussion with senior leaders; board effectiveness evaluation; succession planning and career development for teams
Finance, risk and governance – hiring a CFO for one organisation; mentoring another; refining risk registers to enable Board actions and ownership; learning sessions from governance case-studies
Strategy – reviewing our vision and mission; organisation structure and culture; investor readiness and fundraising; mentoring entrepreneurs and developing leaders; data and technology
Core business – commodities market research and networking; FinTech and SaaS networking; attending NPQ delivery and learning from teachers on the courses; being able to watch my daughters in sport and drama, be active in family life
I’ve been very lucky to have worked with some fantastic organisations (including Deutsche Bank, Beacon Platform, Ambition Institute, AbacusBio, Mandara, SEDA Experts) and now be able to contribute in Chair, Board, Trustee and advisor roles. I am now the “jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than the master of one” – which it turns out, seems not to be a historical quote at all [but I enjoyed this Jen Lee article about it https://lnkd.in/eA-bjhTS and this one https://lnkd.in/ez2WwgaA]
Picture borrowed from https://lnkd.in/eqwNqDgE
White Star Fire 