Not one for following convention, I dropped out of university (twice) through disillusionment with the education system. It all seemed geared to us getting careers and taking our places as drones in the economy. It was difficult to fall in line with an educational system when you recognised that what they were primarily teaching you was how to be a good employee i.e. not to question things or rock the boat.

And the rebel in me just couldn’t accept that.

I’ve since gone on to study at undergrad. level (ecology, anthropology), post-grad. level (astronomy) and obtained a professional management accounting chartership through CIMA. Oh, and I also qualified as a chef along the way.

At the start of 2016, I pressed pause on a long and successful career in financial management to allow time and space to review my long-term career options. For some time now I’ve wanted to expand my horizons and venture into new, exciting and uncharted territory. There’s a whole world of opportunity out there waiting for each of us to go out and grab with both hands. And there is no better time to do that than now: we have entered the era of the autonomous career.

My guiding philosophy in this next phase of my career and life is “Excellence Through Learning” – and I welcome both paid and unpaid opportunities which align with that.

This blog is my public platform to test out new directions along the journey. Expect it to be free-form and wide-ranging, as well as covering current areas of interest:

• Systems thinking
• Collaborative working/learning
• Data science/analytics
• Digital accounting systems
• AI/machine learning
• Space/astronomy
• Economics/geopolitics

I also continue to work in finance in a consultative capacity, working with individuals and small businesses, sharing my experience and skills in financial management, accounting and business/finance systems development. I’m available for consulting and interim positions in these fields, and you can contact me here or via my consultancy website Autonomy Finance.

A final word:

I believe in the creative power of the individual, yet I value the collaborative approach too. If you’re finding overlaps between your work/interests and mine, and you’re interested in exploring possible collaborations, I would love to hear from you.

Or simply connect – and let’s see what mutual, non-linear benefits we can create.