Page 29 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

office and go: Wow! We have our own The Top 10
company and it’s in Berkeley Square!
And yes, £10billion is a lot of money,
but you know, it’s a peanut in the world.
We’re still small. You’ve got to keep your
perspective. That’s what drives me, not
just to stay humble but to realise there’s
so much more to do. Bigger isn’t better.
It can be humbling and daunting too.
You’re also passionate about
philanthropy and giving back. You
founded your own charity and you’re
on the board of several educational
establishments. Why is this so
important to you?
I like the idea of building an army of
people to make a positive ripple effect
of sunshine where it’s needed most. The
Black Heart Foundation (the charity
founded by Ric) gives care, support and
resources to help talented, committed
children achieve great things. It’s
amazing to watch kids catch fire. We’re
in a world where everyone wants to be
important, it doesn’t matter what for. ‘I
have to be on YouTube, have Instagram
followers, be the President of the United
States.’ What happened to our old
role models, like Martin Luther King,
Mahatma Gandhi? It’s the importance
of doing something of value, not just
about getting credit for it. I hope we
can find an antidote to that – and to the
phone culture.
You sound like you’re not a phone fan.
You can learn a lot on your phone but
you’re unlikely to learn how to read
people unless you interact with them.
It’s a dying art and one we’re trying to
teach our young people. I see it this
way: it’s not what you die with, it’s
about the stories and the people you’ve
accumulated along the way – that’s the
real richness of life.
in life. But some of the quickest wins learn quickly and read people and Do you feel the nature of philanthropy
for me are the simplest. Respecting situations well and take a healthy is changing?
people’s time, having positive energy side-serving of humility at all times. I feel it’s changing within the black
and going the extra mile for what you But that’s only one side of the story. community. In the late 1990s, some
really care about all count for a lot and One of the trickiest things about of the things going on in the black
can propel you to great heights, but leading a business is that you’ve got to community felt very insular, it was,
crucially, you have got to “be bothered” know what you’re less good at and be “We’ll struggle with our problem.” It
to be your own best advocate in who comfortable surrounding yourself with used to be the black community was
you are and what you do. If you don’t people who are better than you at many afraid to advance its own causes,
get out of your own way, no one can things. I also believe that establishing a and some of those who did well were
help you to achieve your dreams. culture of principles and operations is afraid to share and help others in case
critical to the success of any collective. they lost out. I’d say: Don’t be afraid to
What are the traits of a good leader? Good rules are great guidelines; bad pay it forward and help others, you’re
I believe that truly great leaders rules are soul-destroying. not going to lose yours. The Jewish
intuitively develop, refine, perfect and community does it well, so does the
make peace with their own special Tristan is now a market leader, Asian community. We have done it less
brand of magic. For me, that’s about managing assets of £10billion. How well, though I feel I’ve helped encourage
capitalising on the fact that I am does that feel? the change, and the Powerlist is a great
comfortable in foreign environments; There are times when I walk into the example of the change too.

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