#16: Ashok Gupta - Overcoming Bigots & Discrimination - Successful Chairman in Tech & Insurance

Ashok Gupta- has accrued a wealth of experience as Chairman, CEO & NED to Insurance & Tech start-ups. He has played key roles in building several highly successful financial services businesses, both traditional (The Phoenix Group, Old Mutual Wealth, SJPC) and digital (EValue, propertyfinder.com, Rocketer). He has also been highly influential in the turn-around of several large organisations (Scottish Amicable, Old Mutual Asset Management). As a result, his expertise is increasingly drawn-on by policymakers to advise on and in helping to effect change to industry sectors (Bank of England, PLSA). 

Ashok said – “Life shaped me – I had an unusual childhood as 1 of only 2 x Asian men in a very bigoted town in Northern Ireland (my father was the other). I had a very isolate childhood, so I struggled to find role models from my local community to learn from. So I was drawn to people like Gandhi & Mandela. In my business career I worked with some fantastic successful leaders - Mark Weinberg & Mike Wilson (created Allied Dunbar & St James Place). Also with Hugh Osmond (created Punch Taverns, Pizza Express & Phoenix Group), Andy Haldane Chief Economist Bank of England, Paul Bradshaw (created Skandia).

Paul & I shared the view that there are 2 types of entrepreneurs: 

1. Those who want to build a great business that delivers something customers really value, and through this make money 

2. Those who just want to make money. 

The difference between the two is huge

Learning from Mistakes – I made the same one twice. Unforgivable. Confronted situations in too assertive, emotional & uncompromising a way. It was totally counterproductive. 

Top Tip - CEO shine a light beam those they interact with – this can have either a positive or negative impact. What impact do you want yours to have?

#InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #InclusiveLeadership #Boards #Diversity

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