Currently...

I am now Chief Executive of a very dynamic and driven multi award winning mid-sized charity called http://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">St Giles Trust that helps break the cycle of offending. It has given my Ernest Shackleton desires of leadership a chance to really flourish, although I feel more like Harry Redknapp, constantly trying to achieve the most for the team without the luxury of abundant resources!

We have been lucky to have been ranked 4th Best in the Sunday Times Best Companies Awards (public sector/third sector); we won Britain's Most Innovative Charity award; and most proudly for me, we are at the sharp end in delivering Social Finance's world first Social Impact Bond.

Our USP is that we use a great deal of ex-offenders - they are rigorously selected, intensively trained and well managed - to deliver our front line services to about 15,000 clients a year.

Before I escaped...

I started my career in the City at Nomura back in the late 80s which I absolutely adored. Then had the great fortune to work for Schroder Securities in Tokyo for many years before heading back to London to work with ABN AMRO on their emerging markets team.

My moment of truth...

Didn't want on my tombstone 'Grumpy Investment Banker' I suppose.

Planning for it...

I did a fantastic MBA at Henley Management College. It was a lovely luxury in many ways as it gave me time to really think about what I wanted to do with my life post-City. I loved the city; it was full of exceptionally bright people and I loved the energy.

However, I suppose towards the end of my career I sort of lost the passion, and if you don't feel passionate about your work it's very difficult to give it your all, and life seems to slip away without achieving all you can.

The worst and best bits...

Best: The last four years running a charity have been a real eye-opening experience. It certainly gives you a fresh perspective on life. I do genuinely love my job. We have created a real can-do culture here at http://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">St Giles Trust. I am surrounded by very motivated people, who always go the extra mile for their clients. I love that. I love that sense of pride they feel when they turn someone's life around for good. It's a powerful and raw emotion.

It's also been pretty amazing in terms of people you meet and advise. From Prime Ministers, visits from the likes of Prince William, regular and fascinating meeting with Cabinet Ministers, and then the everyday catch up with our clients on the very far spectrum of society. This is what is best.

Worst: simple - it's a hugely stressful job! And the pay isn't IB levels - no kidding. There are great frustrations sometimes; lack of funding for work that really does save the taxpayer millions of pounds often seems to trickle in rather than being chucked at you - as it would be in a free market.

Sometimes it appears that excellence isn't rewarded and you are fighting against a system which doesn't value or reward innovation and step changes in delivery models that are exponentially better value. This is the worst side.

Best advice...

From my wife: "You have two ears and one mouth. Use them proportionately!"

From my Canadian Godfather whom from my first days has always said to me: "Go for it".

Useful resources and information...

Doing an MBA was fantastic for me. I am hugely grateful to wonderful Professor, who sadly is no longer with us, called Terry Garrison who made a real difference to my thinking and my life in my side step into a new career, as well as the help from Chris Bones the Dean at Henley at that time.