Mansfield inspires Year 11
On Monday, Year 11 students were privileged to hear from David Mansfield, former CEO of Capital Radio PLC, distinguished business leader and author, for an insightful talk on his career journey. Before his talk, he toured the school and was particularly impressed by the facilities and intrigued by the GCSE art students' coursework, especially projects on the theme of “identity.”
During his talk, we learnt that his journey to success was marked by numerous personal and professional challenges. He was adopted and faced the loss of his father at the age of 18. His poor GCSE grades led to his departure from school. In one of his early jobs, he encountered an unapproachable boss, resulting in inadequate training and being listed as the worst salesman in the country. Despite these setbacks, Mr. Mansfield's persistence and humility have been central to his influential career, underscoring the importance of perseverance in overcoming life's obstacles.
He introduced the concept of "Black Swan" events - unpredictable occurrences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic - that can significantly impact businesses and personal lives, and he informed us as to how to deal with these events. Throughout his address, Mr. Mansfield's modesty resonated deeply with the audience, making his story all the more inspiring. His visit left a lasting impression, motivating students to navigate their own paths with resilience and grace.
Written by Paarush and Godwin (Year 11)
From engineer to chocolate salesman, David became CEO of Capital Radio, helping build a multimillion-pound company while enjoying his passion for music and meeting a few stars along the way!
He recently completed a Masters’s Degree (MA) in Strategic Decision-Making and is currently a doctoral student at Cranfield University studying for a DBA (PhD).
He’s been a director of Carphone Warehouse, Game Group, Music Festivals, Ingenious Media and many others.
He’s a serial investor and entrepreneur who advises younger generations on how to build their own businesses by pursuing their passions and dreams.
He’s a speaker, mentor, and author. He published The Monday Revolution, a book that captures everyday lessons applicable to any individual or company based on personal mistakes and successes.
Although he left school at 16, he became a visiting fellow of the University of Oxford and a visiting professor at Cass Business School. He’s a fellow of the Center for Evidence-Based Management and an Executive Business Coach (EMCC Global Individual Accreditation Practitioner).