Page 30 - Powerlist 2020

The Top 10

have ideas and worry that people will
Economics.
steal them. But ideas mean nothing. to speak at the London School of
What matters is who can execute them I just think America is more current
– implement the idea. It’s important to and they look for more positive stories
talk to as many people as possible; get rather than the usual stuff which is
the feedback. Of course some investors I’ll go into my already in the textbooks.
will tell you that you’re insane and that local Marks &
what you’re doing doesn’t work – but What other impacts does this lack of
learn from that, rather than avoid it. Spencer and visible success stories have?
someone will I think it can reinforce negative
What were the other key elements to stereotypes and means that people
launching a successful business? say to me “why are not used to seeing people like me
Passion – if you want to talk to investors, running global companies.
if you want to hire talent, they will see haven’t you I’ve turned up to events where people
how passionate you are. If you are not cleaned up that have a look on their faces that says
passionate it will show. they were expecting someone totally
Positivity – you will come across all spillage?” different. Or I check into hotels and
types of challenges. People easily get there’s a double take when I turn up.
down when things don’t work and I tell you something that happens often
they may give up, but you have to stay In a way it’s linked – how can you stay – in fact it’s happened several times in
positive and keep a sense of proportion. positive when everything around you the past few weeks. I’ll go into my local
Vision – look for opportunities beyond is so depressing? Marks & Spencer and someone will say
your immediate horizon. I say this I’ve also noticed a big difference to me “why haven’t you cleaned up that
especially to young men and women in universities on the west coast of spillage?” or “where is that thing I asked
of African and Caribbean heritage America vs the UK. you to get for me ages ago?” Because
who I worry a lot about. You need to I’ve lectured at Stanford a few times of how I look, there is an assumption
look beyond what you see. Look for and things are so different. Speakers that I am one of the workers and not the
opportunities in Germany, find out who have set up incredible businesses chairman of a global company. That, I
what’s happening in Africa, see what’s come and give lectures. But here, where believe, is a direct impact of not seeing
going on in Asia. There’s too much we have some of the best institutions in more success stories being told.
inward looking. the world, I go to lectures about Africa
and they are still talking about dictators. How does that make you feel?
Why do you think this ambition is They don’t talk about the Africa of I just shrug it off; sometimes I have
somewhat lacking? today and how it’s changing, so it’s still to laugh. But I think that impacts our
We have so many success stories but quite backward looking. young people. They’re not seeing role
they aren’t celebrated or even talked I get more invitations to lecture in the models, they’re not seeing people who
about much. It’s different in America US than the UK and I think that just look like them as high achievers. But we
where they are much more positive shows you how the institutions over have to remain positive and try to have
about this sort of thing. here think. I was surprised to be asked a positive impact on the world.

What are you most proud of?
There are many things, but the way our
company has used tech to transform
how people send money gives me a real
sense of achievement.
Now, even in remote villages, people
– and I’m thinking here especially of
women, who tend to run the households
– can receive money directly to their
phones, rather than send someone or
go on a long journey to a city. They get
to keep far more of what’s sent.
It really is changing lives and that’s
something I am immensely proud of.

What’s next for you?
I’m excited about getting involved
in philanthropy and I’m setting up a
foundation. It will start in Somaliland
and focus on some key sustainable
development goals: infrastructure,
health and education. I made a career
out of people sending money back
and now I want to give something
back myself.

30 Powerlist 2020