How curiosity can transform a career... and a business, with Andrew Bowley, Principal at Bowley FI

Episode 13  ·  Jul 28, 04:00 AM
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For almost four decades, Andrew Bowley has built his career in investment banking, holding executive and non-executive roles across the globe. He shaped sustainability strategies at Nomura and Wells Fargo, before stepping into a new chapter earlier this year with a portfolio career through his advisory business, BowleyFI (Finance with Impact).
In this episode of Rooted: the human side of sustainability leadership, Andrew reflects on what it really takes to create lasting change inside large organisations and why curiosity has been the thread running through his entire career.
We explore how a deep fascination with understanding how things work led him from developing financial products and building new businesses through to creating sustainability strategies. Rather than treating sustainability as a separate department, Andrew shares why he believes it has to become part of every commercial conversation if organisations are going to transform. 
Alongside the strategic discussion, we also have a very honest conversation about the pressures that many ambitious leaders carry. Andrew talks openly about the anxiety that has fuelled his success, the temptation to respond by simply working harder, and the importance of recognising when healthy challenge begins to tip into something more damaging.
We also reflect on his experiences working through moments such as Black Monday and the 2008 financial crisis, what those periods taught him about perspective, and why today's sustainability leaders should keep their eyes firmly on the bigger picture.
If you've ever wondered whether you're pushing yourself because you're growing or because you're trying to prove something, I think you'll find plenty to reflect on in this conversation.
In this episode we discuss:
• Andrew's journey from investment banking into sustainability leadership
• Why curiosity and problem solving have shaped every stage of his career
• Building sustainability into the fabric of a business rather than treating it as a standalone function
• The difference between healthy challenge and destructive pressure
• Anxiety, perfectionism and the hidden drivers behind high performance
• Lessons from leading through financial crises and organisational change
• Why sustainability leaders need to think bigger, stay hopeful and keep learning

As always, I'd love to hear what resonates with you after listening.

You can connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please hit subscribe, post a review, and share this episode with your friends. I'd also love you to join my Rooted email community, where I share regular insights about the human side of sustainability leadership - click here to join.
Have any questions? You can find me on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Interested in one-to-one coaching with me? Check out www.yellowbenchcoaching.com to book a  discovery call.
Thanks for listening! 
From Liv 💛