In this episode of Meet Your Inspiration, Rich and Meri sit down with Paul Andrews, a legendary serial entrepreneur from Kent whose remarkable journey spans from teenage paper mill worker to senior technology executive at global banks. Paul shares his unconventional path from leaving school at 14 to becoming VP of Technology at Citibank by age 25, pioneering electronic banking and one of the world's first corporate email systems.The conversation explores Paul's philosophy of continuous learning, starting with invaluable advice from an early supervisor: "First learn your own job, then learn someone else's." This principle guided him through diverse roles—from crawling through Victorian machinery as a "grease monkey" to building pan-European computer networks and implementing electronic trading systems at Goldman Sachs during the Big Bang deregulation.Paul reveals how curiosity and adaptability drove his success across multiple industries, from mainframe computing and satellite communications to founding Bunker Radio (900+ episodes, 3,000+ guests) and establishing Kent's first co-working spaces. He emphasises the importance of people skills alongside technical expertise, sharing candid insights about burnout, toxic work environments, and knowing when to pivot.• Learning someone else's job creates unexpected opportunities and career advancement• Curiosity and asking questions matter more than formal qualifications• Successful businesses require solid financial planning, not just passion• Adaptability and continuous learning prevent career stagnation• Building genuine relationships opens doors to new ventures• People management skills become crucial as technical careers progress• Recognising personal limits helps avoid burnout and maintain wellbeing• Community investment and giving back create lasting impact beyond profit• Every career pivot stems from relationships, curiosity, and courage to try new things• Practical, hands-on learning often trumps theoretical knowledge00:30 - Introduction to Paul Andrews02:24 - The Power of Real-Time Social Media04:09 - Leaving School and Landing the First Job08:22 - The Best Advice: Learn Your Job, Then Someone Else's13:16 - The Value of Continuous Learning16:07 - From Manual Labour to an Office Job20:06 - Moving to London and Working in Insurance23:34 - Getting into IT Through Football25:43 - From Computer Operator to Network Controller32:23 - Strategic Career Moves and Identifying Trends33:42 - Pioneering European Data Networks35:56 - Headhunted: Designing Networks for Nuclear Power37:37 - Pivoting into the Future of Banking Technology38:19 - Innovating at Citibank: Pre-Internet Banking41:07 - From Paper Mill to VP: Learning on the Job42:35 - Building the First Electronic Banking Network45:26 - Integrating the IBM PC and Scaling the Bank47:36 - The Unauthorised Birth of Internal Email51:13 - Navigating Corporate Politics and Leaving Citibank53:53 - Joining Goldman Sachs and the Big Bang Deregulation55:16 - Pioneering Electronic Trading58:43 - A Tale of Two Cultures: Corporate vs. Partnership01:00:27 - The Breaking Point: Why I Quit Goldman Sachs01:05:11 - Becoming an Entrepreneur: The Consulting Years01:07:37 - An Accidental Career in Motivational Speaking01:13:03 - The BBC Rant That Inspired a Radio Show01:15:43 - From a Potato Factory to a Radio Station01:20:06 - The Mission of Bunker Radio: Championing Small Business01:20:44 - Paul's Co-Working Spaces01:21:51 - The Origin of Jobs in Kent01:25:01 - Advice for Starting a Business01:25:44 - The Importance of Market ResearchCatch up with Paul on the Biz Bunker Radio each week:https://www.kentbusinessradio.co.uk/Our sponsors:https://www.hempsteadhouse.co.uk/https://theitrustapp.com/https://whatsoninkent.com/#CareerInspiration, #TechPioneer, #ContinuousLearning, #EntrepreneurialMindset, #AdaptToThrive,

Ver todos los episodios