Business Daily Business Daily meets: Dean Forbes
Dec 20, 2024
Dean Forbes, the CEO of Swedish software firm Forterro, shares his inspiring journey from homelessness as a teenager to influential entrepreneur. He reflects on key life lessons learned from failures, especially after his football career didn't pan out. Dean discusses resilience shaped by his upbringing in a single-parent household and emphasizes the importance of overcoming bias in the corporate world. He also highlights his commitment to sustainability and the ambitious future of merging smaller software companies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Hardships
- Dean Forbes grew up in poverty in Lewisham, facing homelessness twice as a teenager.
- Despite these hardships, his mother instilled resilience and a non-victim mentality.
Football Career
- Dean Forbes was a talented footballer, playing for Crystal Palace and later representing Guyana internationally.
- Though his professional career ended due to injury and lack of discipline, he values his football experience.
Corporate Beginnings
- After football, Dean Forbes started his corporate journey with Motorola in a call center to address his debt.
- This was a stark transition from his passion, forcing him to adapt to a new work environment.