60 second interview with Mark Pearce, Alkimi Group
Citywealth spoke to Mark Pearce, General Counsel at Alkimi Group, about clients, mental health and doing what you love.
Tell me about your role.
I am General Counsel at Alkimi Group responsible for overseeing all aspects of the legal requirements of a digital asset business including contracts.
Walk us through your daily routine.
- 5:30-6:00 Prayer and meditation
- 6:15-7:15 Survive the gym
- 7:15-8:00 Survive the onslaught of two over-energised children
- 8:00-18:00 Survive whatever the working day throws at me (sometimes literally)
- 18:00‚19:30 Try to be home for story time (we have just started Harry Potter 3!)
- 19:30‚22:00 Cook dinner, try and stay awake!
- 22:00 My phone switches itself off automatically (as does my brain)
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
Writing an article on my mental health, which encouraged a number of other members of the firm to come forward with their own concerns. This allowed people to adjust their working life to better suit their needs and circumstances.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Empathy, which is why I can’t be a team leader. A good leader must first understand their team in order to work out how to get the most out of them without breaking them. As I have ASD I lack the ability to empathise and tend to expect everyone to be like me and get confused when they are not.
Who do you most admire and why?
Honestly, my wife for putting up with me (and for working in the sometimes horrific field of community paediatrics, I never win the “bad day‚ competition)
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
Euro Disney, I question whether this actually qualifies as pleasure so might be better placed under the ‘hard work’ category!
If you weren’t in the wealth management industry, what else might you be doing?
Before committing my life (and soul?) to the law, I nearly joined MI5
How do you relax after a long day?
I like to cook. I am, what you might describe as, experimental. Some things work well, sausages in coconut milk does not!
Best piece of advice for Generation Z?
Do what makes you happy and keeps you sane. You’re likely to live until you’re 100 and be working until you’re 75 so you should do something you enjoy!
