I grew up in a deprived area of East London...
The son of migrants, I grew up in a one bedroom council flat in Newham, where I did my schooling. I was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative condition at birth, called Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease. As the symptoms have gradually increased, I’ve become more and more aware of my limitations, and my personal need to fulfil my purpose has grown. I am compelled to do as much as I can before my health prevents me! I’ve always had a passion for supporting non-privileged communities, and have volunteered my time toward doing so since 1996.
I studied hard, got jobs at top tier firms,
yet still felt like an outsider...
I graduated with a first-class degree in finance; completed my chartered accountancy training at a Big 4 firm; worked in banking and then joined EY in 2014. But, I’ve never been able to shift the feeling that I’m an outsider.
I realised very early on in my career that being strong academically did not stop me from feeling like an imposter. From the beginning, there were constant reminders all around me – wearing a brown suit on my first day working in finance, not knowing how to use my knives and forks at corporate dinners, and colleagues even asking if they could call me by an English nickname – because it would be easier to pronounce!
icanyoucantoo was born from my
desire to change the narrative...
Through my own lived experience I understand first-hand the challenges faced by many young people and their families. I started icanyoucantoo in 2016 to take action against these barriers, fuelled by my (at times challenging!) belief that following my purpose would lead to more fulfilling ‘work’ than a ‘regular’ career path. On my journey I have navigated uncertainty – weathering pay cuts, all-consuming working hours, and asking people to come along on the ride with me - to create the capacity and environment to do as much as I can for the causes that I love.