Disruptors Sir Tom Hunter: Interview With Billionaire, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist [Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]
Welcome to another episode of the Disruptors Podcast. In today’s episode, Rob interviews entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and proud Scotsman, Sir Tom Hunter. Tom is Scotland’s first home-grown billionaire and is known as Britain's most generous tycoon. In 1998 after selling Tom’s first business, Sports Division for a cool £290m, he started The Hunter Foundation. Helping to fund start-ups and grow business education. The foundation has since donated millions to help support education and entrepreneurial projects in Scotland.
Tune in to hear, Rob and Tom discuss and share their own views, on Business, charity, entrepreneurialism and the value and importance of giving back to those less fortunate.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Rob: You’re known as Britain's most generous tycoon, why do you think that is?
Tom: When I sold my first business 20 years ago I was only 37. I had already made more money that I thought I would ever make and it was at that time myself and my wife made some decisions. The first was that I wanted to stay in business, but as a family, we didn’t need any more money. So we set up the Tom Hunter Foundation.
Rob: What are the differences between learning in the classroom and learning by going out there and doing it?
Tom: I really value learning from practitioners. If we’re going to learn about entrepreneurs, I want to hear from an entrepreneur. MBA’s are enough by themselves, you need to have done it also. I’m always listening to the person that’s been there and done it, learn by doing. It’s a mixture of learning in the classroom and having the experience to draw from. We like to talk about successes, but the best learning is through your own failures.
Rob: Can you share some of your failures?
Tom: During the financial crisis we were heavily invested, maybe over-invested and we didn’t see it coming. It was my fault and we lost an awful lot of money. But the learnings from that time have benefited us in moving forward. But look, I’ve never met an entrepreneur that hasn’t made a mistake, an entrepreneurs journey is up, down, left and right. But it’s how we deal with failure that really marks us out. Aim to fail quick and fail cheap, and then get back on the bus. But Fail with some humility so people will back you next time.
Rob: Best advice you’ve ever received? - It’s too much wealth to have, go and find your purpose.
Rob: If you lost it all and had to start again, what would you do? - I’d find partnerships and
Rob What would you change in the world? - I would have more practitioners in government to help write and advise on policies. Use that knowledge to better the country.
Rob: Does money make you more or less happy? - Yes, money makes you happy if you give it away.
Rob: What does the word disruptive mean to you? - We want to back disruptors, both in our foundation and our West Coast Capital, money making side. Disruptors are people who the status quo is not enough, they look at the world as it is and say no. They look to make a change and a difference.
BEST MOMENTS
“We are trying to do something good with our money, whilst we’re still alive”
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards”
“My dad is my hero, he made millions and lost millions, made a bit and lost a bit, but he has always had an amazing talent”
“Our investment philosophy is backing the entrepreneur”
“We want to encourage more entrepreneurs starting and scaling their businesses”
“There are some things that people are naturally born with, but with coaching, we can accelerate our skills and make a difference, we all need mentors, coaches and teachers”
“People should learn by doing, talk to your customers and learn from your mistakes”
“What you’ve been through is invaluable and it’s not just the money that can help people, it’s the knowledge too. You need to find ways of leveraging your time so that you can work out what it is your passionate about so that you can help others.”
“Leave your kids enough money to do something but not enough for them to do nothing”
ABOUT GUEST
Sir Tom Hunter is Scotland’s first ever home-grown billionaire, with an estimated wealth of £1.05 billion.
Tom set up his first business after graduating from Strathclyde University as he was in his own words "unemployable". With a £5,000 loan from his grocer father Campbell and matching funds from a bank he started selling trainers from the back of a van. Hunter built the business into Europe's largest independent retailer.
Tom is a businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, and along with his wife, Marion they established The Hunter Foundation in 1998 after selling Tom’s first business, Sports Division for a cool £290m. The foundation has donated millions to supporting educational and entrepreneurial projects in Scotland.
In 2005 Tom received a knighthood for “services to Philanthropy and to Entrepreneurship in Scotland”. and In October 2013, Tom was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Described by some as the “Nobel Prize for philanthropy”, the medal recognises those who use their private wealth for public good and is awarded biannually to global figures leading the way in this field.
CONTACT METHOD
https://www.thehunterfoundation.co.uk/
Twitter - @SirTomHunter
[Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]
VALUABLE RESOURCES
ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Moore is an author of 9 business books, 5 UK bestsellers, holds 3 world records for public speaking, entrepreneur, property investor, and property educator. Author of the global bestseller “Life Leverage” Host of UK’s No.1 business podcast “Disruptors”
“If you don't risk anything, you risk everything”
CONTACT METHOD
Rob’s official website: https://robmoore.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robmooreprogressive/?ref=br_rs
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979