I lead several parallel
lives today, which makes life wonderful.
A formal profile says
that my "primary industry of expertise" is venture capital
and private equity, that's because I was trained as a financial
engineer and had a professional career as a venture capitalist.
However, depending on who you are you will know me for different
things: Holonics Entrepreneur; Gardener; Parent, Son or Brother;
Lifestyle Coach, Venture Capitalist; Editor; IT Hacker; Business
Advisor, Windsurfing instructor, Mountain Biker ... but I've never
been fond of pigeon holes, for myself or others.
I pursued a career in
venture capital from teenage years because I saw it as a way to make
a difference to young businesses. I wanted to help them not only be
profitable, but ethical and nice places to work too. I had my first
taste as a summer job working for the late Dick Onians at Baring
Brothers Hambrecht & Quist, then some years later after business
school was lucky to land a job in Asia helping manage a couple of VC
funds.
Those were interesting
times ... and became more interesting with the Asian Financial
Crisis. A few of years of working with businesses in those difficult
times confirmed that I loved the work and was good at it, but that
the VC industry, like the rest of the financial industry, suffered
from the problems that I wanted to overcome - greed and fear.
While I was good enough
to do the work, I wasn't "senior" enough to influence the
company that employed me, let alone the industry. So I said, “Thank
You” for a wonderful experience and a good life, and decided to do
something completely different. I wasn't sure what or how, but I
wanted to balance ethics and economics, so, dragging my young family
with me, I jumped over the edge.
I had been thinking
about it for at least 5 years and had a file full of notes outlining
everything from business method to brand and logo. I went back to my
roots in Ireland to find out where I came from and explore those
ideas. I researched and tested organic growing, ethical venture
capital, socially responsible retail and catering, land management,
family dynamics and more. I was driven by a passion to stop doing
things in a way that I felt compromised integrity and to change the
world for the better. Ha! What a dreamer.
I wanted to push out
the envelope to see what was possible in terms of living with nature.
But living over the edge was not comfortable. It wasn't log cabin
stuff, and I had a loving safety net of friends and family. But
there are few of my peers that would imagine some of the conveniences
that we compromised on. It was easier for me than my wife and
children, because I knew in my heart where I was going and why, even
if I could not rationalise it; they allowed me to do it and supported
me. And of course I was swimming against the tide – my parents,
wife and close friends probably thought I was a bit nuts!
But I wasn't looking
for luxury and I knew that most people were much worse off than me so
we stuck at it.
Today, back from the
edge, I know what sort of realistic boundaries there are to
expectations. I know what can and can not be done. Importantly for
me, I've rationalised the Big Picture and this has converted in to a
clear understanding of a holonic framework for describing life, and a
experiential ability to help people change, without some of the
compromises that we took upon ourselves.
We enjoy the bounty of
nature, living in an old garden cottage. We've rejuvenated the
garden, discovering for example, a ancient granite aqueduct that had
been submerged under mud. I know a bit about horticulture (organic
of course) and grow enough to share some locally. I still dabble in
VC, ethical of course, and help people plan their own business
success. I can use IT to leverage my mind in time and space,
including linux networking, website management and integration with
legacy systems. I help people change their lives and even play a
role in transforming our community. I do some charity work. I build
and rebuild buildings. I've learned to make few resources go a long
way. I spend a lot of time with our 4 children and I'm beginning to
be a competent parent. Mostly I love life and enjoy it!
Finance professional,
specialised in venture capital. Now pursuing the combination of
sustainability and ethics with finance and business. Taking a step
in the right direction by Walking The Talk: combining investment
management and advisory with teaching, organic gardening and
parenting!
Business and venture
capital experience in Asia, Europe and US (in that order).
I lead several parallel
lives today, which makes life wonderful.
I pursued a career in
venture capital from teenage years because I saw it as a way to make
a difference to young businesses. I wanted to help them not only be
profitable, but ethical and nice places to work too. I had my first
taste as a summer job working for the late Dick Onians at Baring
Brothers Hambrecht & Quist, then some years later after business
school was lucky to land a job in Asia helping manage a couple of VC
funds.
While I was good enough
to do the work, I wasn't "senior" enough to influence the
company that employed me, let alone the industry. So I said, “Thank
You” for a wonderful experience and a good life, and decided to do
something completely different. I wasn't sure what or how, but I
wanted to balance ethics and economics, so, dragging my young family
with me, I jumped over the edge.
I had been thinking
about it for at least 5 years and had a file full of notes outlining
everything from business method to brand and logo. I went back to my
roots in Ireland to find out where I came from and explore those
ideas. I researched and tested organic growing, ethical venture
capital, socially responsible retail and catering, land management,
family dynamics and more. I was driven by a passion to stop doing
things in a way that I felt compromised integrity and to change the
world for the better. Ha! What a dreamer.
I wanted to push out
the envelope to see what was possible in terms of living with nature.
But living over the edge was not comfortable. It wasn't log cabin
stuff, and I had a loving safety net of friends and family. But
there are few of my peers that would imagine some of the conveniences
that we compromised on. It was easier for me than my wife and
children, because I knew in my heart where I was going and why, even
if I could not rationalise it; they allowed me to do it and supported
me. And of course I was swimming against the tide – my parents,
wife and close friends probably thought I was a bit nuts!
Today, back from the
edge, I know what sort of realistic boundaries there are to
expectations. I know what can and can not be done. Importantly for
me, I've rationalised the Big Picture and this has converted in to a
clear understanding of a holonic framework for describing life, and a
experiential ability to help people change, without some of the
compromises that we took upon ourselves.
We enjoy the bounty of
nature, living in an old garden cottage. We've rejuvenated the
garden, discovering for example, a ancient granite aqueduct that had
been submerged under mud. I know a bit about horticulture (organic
of course) and grow enough to share some locally. I still dabble in
VC, ethical of course, and help people plan their own business
success. I can use IT to leverage my mind in time and space,
including linux networking, website management and integration with
legacy systems. I help people change their lives and even play a
role in transforming our community. I do some charity work. I build
and rebuild buildings. I've learned to make few resources go a long
way. I spend a lot of time with our 4 children and I'm beginning to
be a competent parent. Mostly I love life and enjoy it!
