Alex Soskin
Come to Hub Westminster! This is a great place to connect like-minded people who are interested in making a difference. Our community is growing and becoming more interesting every day.
From asset management to social start-up
Alex Soskin spent 7 years looking after investment structures for rich individuals and large corporates. He always knew he should be helping organisations who give something back to the world. Alex found the escape route and after taking a break to travel, he found http://westminster.the-hub.net/" rel="nofollow">Hub Westminster, an organisation specifically designed to help start-ups with a social mission to succeed.
How I can help Esc members
Come to http://westminster.the-hub.net/" rel="nofollow">Hub Westminster! This is a great place to connect with like-minded people who are interested in making a difference. Our community is growing and becoming more interesting every day.
Currently...
I am currently Finance Director at Hub Westminster, a Community Interest Company which seeks to facilitate the growth of start-ups in the social enterprise sector.
This is done by delivering an affordable and flexible workspace, offering education and top-up learning programmes, and curating a collaborative environment to help start-ups learn and grow their networks.
My day-to-day life now involves juggling the social and financial returns so that our organisation can deliver its social mission sustainably into the future.
Before I escaped...
After a brief stint as a Research & Development tax consultant, I joined the Asset Management sector, managing large investment funds for a group of High-Net-Worth individuals.
I always knew deep down that I would not stay in this sector for ever, and also that I would pick up invaluable skills and experience in this high pressure environment. It is however very easy to get stuck, and the longer you wait for a move, the harder it becomes.
My moment of truth...
In the Asset Management sector, there is always a carrot on a stick or a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
One day I realised that I did not care about the carrot, and then asked myself, "If I don't care about the money, and my work is just about getting the rich richer, what am I doing?"
Planning for it...
I had cleared my sizeable student debts, and had enough money tucked away to stop work for 6 months - 1 year.
It took me a year to find the courage to take the risk, and I hadn't lined up any alternative work. I knew I was going to travel for a while and hoped that the next project would land at my feet. I handed in my notice with a one-way ticket to Kuala Lumpur.
The worst and best bits...
The worst part of the story was returning to the UK from travelling and not having a job during the middle of the recession. I took a 6 month contract in the same sector as before just to stay busy. This was when I doubled my efforts to find alternatives.
The best part of the story was when I found two of the Hub Directors and realised the business was a perfect match to my aspirations and skill set.
Best advice...
Never let yourself stagnate at work. If you're unhappy with something, tell your boss. Don't hold it in through fear of a reaction. Honesty is the best policy and usually leads to better situations.
Useful resources and information...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Art-Happiness-at-Work/dp/0340831200/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349526364&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">'The Art of Happiness at Work' - A book based on interviews with the Dalai Lama.