The Rest Is Politics: Leading 144. Gary Stevenson: From Teenage Drug Dealer to Millionaire Trader (Part 1)
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Jul 20, 2025 
Gary Stevenson, author of The Trading Game and former trader, shares his remarkable journey from expulsion for drug dealing in East London to becoming a successful trader. He discusses the profound impact of class and privilege on financial success, along with the pressing mental health challenges faced by men in the workplace. The conversation dives into societal stigmas, the intersection of race and class, and the evolving nature of trading, emphasizing the need for compassion in a competitive environment.
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LSE as a Culture Shock
- Gary attended LSE wearing a tracksuit and stood out as the poor kid among wealthy international students.
- His strong mathematical abilities and confidence helped him overcome class prejudices and excel academically.
Challenging East London Childhood
- Gary grew up in a small terraced house in Ilford, East London, in a noisy, volatile household with a very religious family background.
- His childhood was marked by difficult family dynamics and a lack of space, shaping his early experiences.
Dual Voices in Writing
- Gary used two distinct voices in his writing to capture class and code-switching authentically.
- Both working-class slang and classic literary voices are equally valuable expressions of identity and intellect.
