Curious for Constant Learning

Bryan's career has encompassed roles at Motorola and Direct Line, and has put into practice his curiosity to learn throughout.

How does it feel to be selected for the Alumni 100 list?

"I feel incredibly proud to be part of celebrating the 100^th year anniversary of the University of Edinburgh Business School. I have some great memories of studying there and more recently supporting some of the current MBA students. So I know it is a place that is making a difference for current and future leaders all over the world."

What made you choose to study at the University of Edinburgh Business School?

"At the time I had moved from construction project management into facilities management. Working at Motorola in Scotland, in a very fast growing dynamic business, I was keen to explore how I could develop my business knowledge to be able to embrace the full range of opportunities that organisation had to offer. Motorola were keen to help me do that and they sponsored me to complete my part-time MBA. As a result, after completing my MBA, my career progressed into designing and leading large-scale transformation strategies."

What are your memories of studying at the Business School?

"There are so many things I learnt on the MBA that were to help me in my career. The languaage of business was a key area that it would help to develop, so that I would be comfortable sitting in executive teams in the future, able to understand and contribute to the full range of issues from strategy and people to finance and operations management. Looking back the challenge was the coursework; in reality the approach of being able to research a subject in groups, understand the problems and opportunities, to then play back potential insights and solutions, is the basis of what I have been doing ever since. So the course was a fantastic grounding for my future career and resultant transitions."

What key thing that you learnt at the Business School do you still rely on today?

"I became fascinated by Psychology at Work, understanding what motivates different people, how to engage them and work with them to lead through change and to ensure they are achieving their true potential. That curiosity to learn and understand the perspective of others is something I rely on every day."

Proudest work-related achievement to date?

"At Direct Line, along with my leadership team, we recruited and established a team of 100 continuous improvement practitioners, to help on the transformational journey for the organisation, touching over 12,000 staff across multiple locations to ultimately improve the customer experience and environment for the staff as we transitioned to a successful IPO. It was building that team that I am most proud of and I look on with pride as I follow those colleagues on LinkedIn to see how their own careers are progressing across a wide variety of roles. As a great mentor once said to me, 'the role of a great leader is to develop more leaders'."

What's the one thing you think current students need to develop or learn before entering the modern workplace?

"Great leaders need to have a number of different characteristics, including curiosity, humility, ability to understand the big picture and knowing when to get hands-on. So for me it would be to remain curious for constant learning and understanding, but to also take time to truly understand what really motivates you (your purpose) and ensure you constantly strive to find organisations and opportunities that help you thrive and that energise you as a leader."