I worked in the City for 10 years, in derivatives

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

‘I worked in the City for 10 years, in derivatives. It was the fastest, most aggressive and cut-throat part of the City. It was great fun. But I did a Bible course for two years. It was a complete change of pace. I found myself coming back into the City.

I felt it was what God wanted me to do. I’ve ended up running an ethical fund management business which is a marriage of my skill set and my faith. I have the attitude of Boaz from the Book of Ruth. It’s the kind of attitude that you need to have. It’s not just about money. Boaz made sure that his workers obeyed the law, but to have seen Ruth, he was looking at the people who were gleaning to ensure that they were benefiting.

That today is as important as it was then. Business shouldn’t be run to numbers, it should be run to mission. Boaz’s example teaches that you have a responsibility to those who are down on their luck, in unfortunate circumstances. Ruthless capitalism, where you take every penny, is not compatible with my faith.

Ethical investment used to be people not wanting guns, oil or gas. But now we focus on investing in renewable energy and social housing, because there’s a desperate need for it. It’s a big growth area. I have gone from being the green weirdo in the corner, which I was, to being where everyone is going. The legacy of the book of Ruth for me, is that there is more to life than just your fields.

Boaz gained more than a field. He had a wonderful wife and family and he got himself into God’s plan through running his business in the way that God wanted him to.’

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