Des Amey Interview

1. Where did you grow up?

Ans- I grew up in Dagenham, which is not a very aspirational town. There are high levels of unemployment, poverty and crime rate. I was the only one from my friendship group to go to university. My family was one of the only black families in our neighbourhood, not that I found it to be a bad experience as my colour never affected me and fortunately, I never received encountered any racism growing up.

2. Tell us a bit about your childhood?

Ans- I came over to the UK from Ghana when I was two years old. My father was a biomedical scientist and he got a scholarship to come to London to further his studies. English was not my first language; I spoke one of our native tongues which is Ewe. After coming to London, I would get into trouble a lot by my father for not speaking English.

Unfortunately, my father became violent towards my mother and I witnessed a lot of domestic violence for e.g my mother being thrown down the stairs and terrible other situations. Shortly after my brother was born my dad left and we grew up in a single parent household with my mum working hard to provide to for us. Despite all of this I had an amazing childhood! We grew up in a cul de sac affectionately termed a “banjo” with a lot of kids that were my age group, there was probably about 20 of us running around being little scallywags! It was such a nice environment, so safe, you could literally go out and play in the banjo, whether it was football, cricket, run outs all of us could go out and be gone for the whole day as all our parents had to do was look out the window to check on us. I loved school, I could not wait to get to school each day, I loved learning and all my friends were there maybe that is why I became a teacher, I love the institution of school.

 

3. What did you want to be when you were a child?

Ans- When I was younger, I wanted to be a businessman, where I would be working in a nice building who wore a nice suit and held a briefcase and was successful. I didn’t know what profession; I just had an overwhelming feeling that I wanted to be a powerful person of influence.

4. What do you like to do with your free time?

Ans- When In my free time I like to spend time with family and friends, watch box sets. I do lots of personal development where I can improve myself and improve my mindset and play sports.

5. What is your favourite music, band or singer?

Ans- Right now, it would have to be Bruno Mars but growing up it was Michael Jackson.

6. Any guilty pleasure?

Ans- Watching trash boxsets for hours on end! It’s just nice to be able to switch off sometimes.

7. Tell us about your favourite food?

Ans- Fried rice which is a traditional Ghanaian rice dish with chicken!

8. About your profession…what are the most difficult things and the most fun things about doing business?

Ans- The most difficult thing is people not seeing the opportunity for what it is and not making the most of it because it can truly be lifechanging. You can pour a lot into people and they don’t see the vision and that can be frustrating. The most fun thing is seeing people achieve their financial goals, seeing people develop and grow, there is nothing more exciting than that.

9. Could you please confess us your biggest professional dream?

Ans- At this moment, I would say it’s to have at least 100 people in my organisation making 6 figures a year.

10. Do you have any others professional project besides business?

Ans- I’m working on building schools in London and West Africa.

11. What are you working on in this moment or what are your projects to come?

Ans- I’m currently working on getting financial education to be a compulsory teaching in schools in England and wales. It’s so important!

12. What do you think is your best quality?

Ans- Most definitely would say that it’s my ability to form relationships. I believe that relationships are the most valuable commodity.

13. And weakness?

Ans- I am my own worst critic, I’m always striving for perfection and that can sometimes slow me down.

14. If you could get any answer in any question in the world, what would you ask?

Ans- It has to be what is the meaning of life, why are we here and what is our purpose? I do believe I am living out my purpose and that is to impact as many lives as possible.

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