I was interested in the global situation at the time
It was the start of the financial crisis, and lots of people around me were losing jobs. Being on the inside, you would get wind of what was happening way before the mainstream media. The sector was already making drastic internal changes - they laid off about 25,000 people at that time to pre-empt the hit. At the same time, those in the management team were paid about 300m dollars in bonuses. Observing all of that, I decided to quit my job and pursue something else.
Following everything that happened, I took a keen interest in corporate governance. I wanted to learn how a system could come about in which corporations were able to create great benefits but also great harms. I ended up studying PPE to incorporate my interest in economics and moral philosophy. By the time I started my PhD, I had changed my focus towards working on corruption.
I saw this as a much greater evil to global economic development and prosperity because there are many opportunities for corporations to be exposed to it. I finished my PhD, started looking for jobs and, after working at St Paul’s School in London for a year, I found a job here at York.