His path wasn’t mapped out by a master plan, but guided by one question: what do you actually want to spend your time doing, rather than what job do you want to have?
Mike left university with a history degree and, in his own words, ‘no clue at all’ about a career, until two summers volunteering as a teaching assistant in South Africa pointed him toward the charity sector. He started out on the London streets, with tabard and clipboard, before working in-house for several great causes including spending over fourteen years at the NSPCC. During that time, he held a series of roles including an incredibly special one leading the campaign for Childline’s 30th anniversary in 2016. This year he became Chief Executive Officer of Air Ambulances UK, though he still calls himself an ‘accidental CEO’.
The life pivot
After almost fifteen years at the NSPCC, Mike was at the end of a three-year secondment and faced a major decision about his future. But a question he picked up from Cam, a New Zealander he met on an earlier trip with the Cabinet Office of Japan, kept ringing in his head. Instead of asking what job title he wanted next, he asked himself what he actually wanted to spend his time doing, and that simple shift changed everything.
So from there he stepped up to be CEO of Air Ambulances UK, the national body representing and serving the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities.
What stood out
What I loved in this conversation was Mike’s lack of executive ego. In a world full of heavily polished corporate speak, it is proper fresh air to hear a CEO talk so openly about stumbling into the top job simply by following his curiosity and caring deeply about the work.
For the record, the CEO of Air Ambulances UK has never been up in a helicopter. We won’t hold it against him. And in the quickfire round, he chose cheese.
Note for listeners
This conversation touches on suicide prevention. If you ever need someone to talk to, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. Children and young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111. #lifepivots
You can also listen to the full episode on our audio streaming platforms
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ec0b61f4-127a-42f3-ab9c-2633e1739f34/