Why a portfolio career benefits me and my network

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

Financial scenario planning

Modelling a steady business is fairly straightforward. Figuring out the possible outcomes for a scale-up or fast growing business can be very difficult. The range of outcomes becomes much wider. Lessons from the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and effect on global inflation that was already building show the importance of “what-if” planning.

We have experience of rapidly growing and shrinking businesses. How to critique potential churn, loss of stable revenues. When to move aggressively into a segment that competitors might be stepping back from – and when to take heed of their actions and preserve capital.

WhiteStarFire can work with your teams to stress-test short- and medium-term assumptions on revenue and margin with a view to providing milestone decision events to ensure your business thrives in hard-to-foresee macro environments.

About WhiteStarFire

WhiteStarFire is a niche consultancy specialising in Commodities, FX, FinTech and Education. We offer services and insight to our clients across multiple sectors, combining our global network and skills.

Rich ran the Commodities trading business for a global investment bank. This business included physical and financial trading in energy, metals, agriculture, carbon emissions and structured origination. He has managed trading businesses for oil and refined products, natural gas and power, metals and agriculture and built sales and origination franchises globally with small- and large-cap corporates, asset managers, hedge funds and banks.

Rich started his career in FX, trading options in London and Chicago before running global derivatives books in Europe, Asia and the US. He led innovations in pricing distribution, risk management and portfolio aggregation.

According to efinancial careers, Sarah Butcher, Rich now “has the sort of technology-focused post-finance portfolio career most ex-traders would probably aspire to”. This includes providing expert witness and non-executive director services. Currently serving as CFO for a US-based high-growth FinTech, he has experience of building an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) driven enterprise technology platform, Series A and B fundraising from strategic and VC investors and organisational development.

Ceri has taught for over twenty years both privately and in schools. She has a Masters degree in Psychology and has been a mentor for children with mental health and behavioural issues.

Rich has devised and delivered seminars for national education leaders on school financial and risk management. He is a Trustee and Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee for a national charity to provide professional development for teachers and school leaders. He was Vice-Chair of a local governing board for three primary schools and so combines the day-to-day knowledge of headteacher challenges with sector strategy.

Together we have managed successful projects including fundraising in the community.