E49 | Navigate Your Career Pivot: Practical Wisdom from Alison Hutchinson CBE’s Transition from Banking CEO To Charity CEO

Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies, an award-winning fintech charity, also serves as Senior Independent Director at DFS plc, Yorkshire Building Society, and Foresight Group Holdings Ltd. Awarded a CBE in 2016 for her contributions to the economy and charities, Alison has a diverse background, including 15 years at IBM overseeing global operations, leading e-commerce solutions in the financial services sector, and serving as CEO of a digital subsidiary joint venture with Accenture and Barclays at Barclays Bank. Her tenure at The Kensington Mortgages Group PLC as Group CEO culminated in a successful sale to Investec in 2007 just before the financial market crisis.

In this episode, we delve into the keys to business success, underscore the significance of diligent work ethic, and share invaluable career insights.

We discuss:

- Growing up in West Scotland

- Early exposure to family businesses from the age of 8

- Commencing University studies at the young age of 16

- Navigating the loss of your father

- Embarking on a career journey at IBM

- An encounter with a special individual during a skiing trip

- Ascending to the role of CEO at Barclays B2B

- Balancing decisiveness with compassion in leadership

- Guiding a company through the challenges of a financial crisis

- Transitioning to the role of CEO at Pennies, marking a significant career change

Chapters:

(00:00:00) The Importance of Career Change and Impact

(00:04:17) The Mission of Penny and Digital Giving

(00:08:18) Growing Business Independently

(00:12:23) Valuing and Supporting Employees

(00:16:09) Overcoming Challenges in Dance

(00:20:05) Advice to My Younger Self, Building Inner Strength

(00:24:17) Handling Grief and Moving Forward

(00:28:28) Starting my Journey at IBM

(00:32:31) IBM's Position in the Global Smart Card Market

(00:36:21) A Ski Trip Love Story

(00:40:24) A Tough Time in Tamworth

(00:44:19) The Importance of Asking for Help

(00:48:20) Presenting to the CEO of IBM

(00:52:25) Joining Barkley's B2B

(00:56:25) Transformations and Restructuring

(01:00:35) The Importance of Mentors and Tough Conversations

(01:04:39) Lending to the Self-Employed

(01:08:26) The CEO Offer and Decision Making

(01:12:13) Challenges and Decisions in the Financial Crisis

(01:15:57) Transitioning to a New Chapter

(01:19:49) The Birth of a Charity

(01:23:46) Running a Charity Business

(01:27:47) Finding Balance and Managing Energy in Life

(01:31:48) Living Honestly and Making Choices

(01:36:03) Giving Back to Communities

(01:39:50) Sharing Ideas and Technology in the Charity Sector

(01:44:13) Boosting Charity through Technology and Teamwork

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