10QUESTIONS with Michael Taylor

Our 10QUESTIONS feature asks members of the Freshfield community ten questions about their working life. Featuring client partners, colleagues and FF friends, our guests share some personal stories, views and fresh words of wisdom.

Our latest guest is Michael Taylor, editor of TheBusinessDesk.com in the North West. Michael returned to frontline journalism after a decade-long sojourn into academia and politics. While he failed to get elected to Westminster and the European Parliament, he published both a novel, set against the backdrop of the 2008 on the financial crisis, and a Masters thesis on regional devolution. He also contributes to podcasts and hosts events.

How do you like to start your working day?

Coffee, Wordle, Gym. We start work at 6:45 and get the newsletter out at 8:00, it’s a real privilege to be part of people’s morning routine.

Where and how do you come up with your best ideas?

Great ideas always come from conversations, and for the last 12 years I’ve been part of a hiking group called Freshwalks, then more recently with Outdoor Licence. The trusted friendships that are enhanced on a mountain allow honest scrutiny.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Stop being so f*cking hard on yourself.

What does leadership mean to you?

The most impressive person I have ever interviewed was former MI5 director Eliza Manningham-Buller. She described good leadership being about honesty and clarity, even in times of crisis.

What’s your top tip for achieving a work-life balance?

It’s actually about having your whole life in balance, friends, family, health and fitness and not letting your work define you. But if you have an employer who cranks up the pressure then join a trade union.

Which current or historical business figure do you most admire and why?

I admire the generation of legendary British journalists like Harold Evans and Tina Brown, and editors like former Financial Times editor Lionel Barber who back their reporters. I was fortunate enough to meet Lionel recently (picture below) when I was highly commended at the Wincott Awards for financial, economic and business journalism.

What is your most trusted source of news?

BBC

What is your favourite brand and why?

Patagonia. Yvon Chouinard, its founder proved there could be a better way. They make great gear but it is made with integrity, and really stands for something. It is the absolute benchmark for B Corp businesses.

What’s the most recent new skill you have learnt?

Getting AI to transcribe and summarise roundtable discussions.

We all use them…what management jargon phrase do you use the most?

Never let a good crisis go to waste.