{"id":3357,"date":"2023-06-13T16:17:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:17:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knowledgeetal.com\/?page_id=3357"},"modified":"2024-04-05T12:54:52","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T11:54:52","slug":"a-collaborative-valedictory","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.knowledgeetal.com\/?page_id=3357","title":{"rendered":"A collaborative valedictory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Early days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

50 years ago I was in a quandary. I’d just graduated from high school and was in two minds about my future. I’d had a worse-than-useless interview with the careers advisory team at the college. Short of tradesman they’d suggested becoming a Gas Fitter which seemed at odds with my qualifications in Economics and Law. They’d obviously not seen my pathetic efforts at metalwork or home economics either. A career using my hands was not on my agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then there were fewer universities, higher barriers to entry and a ‘career in the city’ wasn’t dependent on having a degree as a passport to entry. A gap year was something people from public schools did and I’d worked at weekends and during school holidays so understood what getting up to go to work felt like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My father was a capable senior banker based in Bishopsgate dealing in international trade and, though we were of different temperaments, I was intrigued by his stories around “Bills of Lading<\/a>” and “Letters of Credit<\/a>“. So, I chose the City and an entry-level role (in Payments) at Lloyds & Bolsa International Bank in Queen Victoria Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A declaration at 50 not out!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

England are currently taking on Australia (The Aussies) in a cricket series known as playing for the Ashes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ashes urn<\/a>, made of terracotta<\/a> and about 10.5 cm (4″) tall, is reputed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail<\/a>.<\/p>\nWikipedia<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Already there has been a bit of controversy about an early declaration. As I think about my future declaration, I thought it an opportune time, some 50 years on since I started work, to look back at some of the experiences that have shaped my working life (and that of the great people I’ve worked alongside and for). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over the coming months, I will be approaching some of the people I’ve worked with across 30+ countries as a professional and working on a pro bono basis inviting them to contribute to this valedictory by answering two questions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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