Tech – Global Man

Tony Brown: From Foster Care to CEO – A Journey of Resilience

gmmag_editor February 24, 2025 No Comments

From an uncertain childhood in foster care to breaking barriers in leadership, Tony Brown’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of perseverance. Faced with racism, rejection, and hardship at every turn, he defied the odds to carve out a path to success. His story is not just about survival—it’s about transformation, proving that no matter where you start, you can rise, rebuild, and thrive.

Your early childhood was marked by separation from your birth parents and being fostered by multiple families. How did this experience shape your understanding of identity and belonging?

It was the 50’s and white people seen pushing a pram with a black baby were routinely abused. I arrived at an inconvenient time and as a result was fostered for the first 6 years, eventually with a white Dutch family. My time with them was idyllic and I had 2 older brothers who looked after me, I felt loved. Until the age of 5, I did not know that I was a different colour. Nowadays some do not agree with transracial fostering and adoption saying that it is detrimental to the child’s identity. My view is that love and a feeling of security are more important. Cultural mores can be learned later from a solid foundation. Without this start, I don’t know how I would have dealt with the trauma that came next

The moment in the bath at age five was a heartbreaking yet formative experience. How did that incident influence your perception of self-worth and resilience growing up?

When I was five, I was walking down the road when some children threw stones and me as well as racist abuse. It was a shock to the system, I was confused before it dawned on me that I was a different colour to them. I went home, got in the bath with some scouring powder and a brush, and tried to scrub the ‘colour’ off myself. Luckily, my foster mother came in and stopped me. She told me that I was loved, that those bullies were stupid, and that I was a different colour, but as good as anyone else.

Transitioning from a loving foster home to your birth parents’ household was a drastic change. What were the biggest emotional and cultural challenges you faced, and how did you navigate them?

The first point I would make is that people did the best they could with what they knew at the time, even if it was wrong. We are all a product of our backgrounds. I went from a secure, loving home to a brutal, vicious one. I was hurt, both physically and mentally. I was torn away from a safe environment and put into one where I was scared, and beaten regularly with a belt. This was for not acclimatising quickly enough to different foods, or not understanding my father’s broad patois. It was all too fast, my life felt turned on its head. My father was particularly impatient, strict and brutal, with both myself and my mother. It was only later in life that I came to understand that hurt people hurt people.

I started primary school and was severely punished if I did not come top of the class if I came home with dirty shoes, or bleeding because I had been bullied. My father’s response was to send me out to fight the bullies and get another beating from him if I lost. I know that was his way of trying to toughen me up in what he saw as a vicious, racist world where he could see nothing good.

You proved your academic abilities despite the negative assessment from your headmaster. How did that early criticism impact your motivation and drive for success?

I shamed my father still further by failing the 11 plus exam. Furious, he went to my headmaster’s house demanding an explanation as to how this could have occurred. My headmaster responded that I was ‘bright, but not intelligent’, words that infuriated him and impacted me for years. As a result, I was sent away to boarding school. Although I was the only black boy in the school and there was some more bullying, it was a relief to get away from home.

In my first year, I won three academic prizes and I discovered an enjoyment in learning as I could lose myself in it. I was also proving to myself that I was not as stupid as my father and former headmaster had led me to believe.

Racism and discrimination play a significant role in your education and career. What coping mechanisms or strategies did you develop to persist despite these obstacles?

I am always interested in what makes people tick (including me), which is why I did a Psychology degree after leaving school. That was quite a triggering experience as I learned about eugenicists who have a particular view of the world and categorise people according to race and ‘IQ’. It brought back the words of my primary school headmaster who was probably schooled in this line of thought.

When I was 15, and still at school, I was put on anti-depressants and kept on them for the next 45 years. It is only with hindsight that the role race stereotyping had to play in my treatment became clear. Once a label is applied, even incorrectly, the system, be it education, medical, financial, or penal, is difficult to shift and you are treated accordingly.

After leaving university I wanted to use my degree in the field of advertising and market research which fascinated me. However, I found myself homeless and jobless. I was escorted out of my local authority housing office by security after being told I was not ‘priority homeless’, and therefore ineligible for housing. Fortunately, after a while, I got together with some other homeless people and set up a short-life housing cooperative which put a roof over my head.

After numerous applications and interviews with advertising and market research companies in the early eighties, the boss of one of them took me out for a drink. He said I had the right attributes to be an Account Executive, but he could not appoint me because if his clients were prejudiced, he would lose business, and he could not take that risk. He advised me to look for work in another sector.

One day I went to ‘sign on’ at the Unemployment Benefit Office and was told they had a job for me – on the other side of the counter as a clerk. After a year and a half of trying to understand the labyrinthine benefits system which appeared to be designed to confuse, I found a job advising homeless people, before getting my first job as a Housing Officer with a local authority. Again, I saw a complicated hierarchical system designed to confuse and run by people who had not experienced homelessness, or social housing.

I naively made it my ambition to climb the greasy pole as quickly as possible to change things. (Be careful what you wish for). I gained the professional qualification and eight years later after 5 promotions was appointed at 34 as the first black Director of Housing with responsibility for 22,000 properties, 500 staff and a multi-million-pound budget. To get there, I had upset successive bosses, (with one exception), who tried to put me off saying I was moving too fast and not ready for the next step. I had upset some because I would not conform to ‘identity’ politics, and others who were racist. One boss in a management team meeting asked me what it was like to be a ‘N’ word. I looked around the table and saw that everyone was studying a microscopic dot on the table when I called him out on it.

One thing I learned from all this is when to pick your battles, and when to bite my tongue. What I found at the top was that every day there were people subtly, or blatantly working against me. I grew eyes in the back of my head and focused on results. Knowing that I would be judged on these I took the department from the bottom to the top of the government league tables. It was stressful. I coped by getting up and running at 5 am and on occasions drinking too much on top of the anti-depressants. At the time I was in an unhappy marriage and things piled up. Inevitably, divorce came next. The judge lowered her glasses and gave 90% to the other party. At the same time, the political administration which had been ‘hung’ for 4 years with ‘no overall control’ changed. Time for retribution, after 7 years in the role I was out of a job, and homeless again.

Your career journey was filled with resilience, from unemployment to leading housing initiatives. What lessons did you learn about perseverance and adaptability along the way?

I learned that there are some good people in the world, to balance out the others. It’s important to keep an open mind and know that you are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. There will be as many who gravitate towards you as want to bury you. If you keep going doors you never thought would open do, and treat others as best you can, even when they disappoint you. Don’t waste time on vengeance, it sucks your energy. Karma has a way of fixing things, don’t bother doing it yourself. Focus on the end goal. If you lose focus, refocus on the big picture and find purpose in this.

Hitting rock bottom on Christmas Eve 2011 was a pivotal moment in your life. What shifted in your mindset after that experience, and how did you begin rebuilding?

I had several good years as a consultant after my divorce and job loss. I built my way back into solvency, bought a house, and was in another relationship. Then came the 2008 crash and the contracts dried up. By Xmas Eve 2011, I had sold the car, and there was a pile of unpaid bills, disconnection notices, and court dates relating to repossession. There was no food in the fridge, and the person who had been living with me for the past 6 years decided to leave.

I could hear an Xmas party going on next door with Slade’s song blasting through the walls. I had had enough, I had no money and could not see a way out. What I did have was a stash of anti-depressants collected over the years and a couple of cheap bottles of wine. I ran a bath, got in and took swigs of wine between swallowing mouthfuls of pills, intending to never wake up again.

However, I woke up in a locked psychiatric ward in a hospital with no clothes, money or phone, sectioned under the Mental Health Act. I was heavily sedated, but the medics decided that my depression was so intransigent that something more was needed – Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT). They strapped down my arms and legs, put an appliance around my tongue to prevent me from choking on it, injected me, and proceeded to administer the shocks.

I was told I could not leave until they said I could, and I had no way of contacting anyone to let them know I was there. Fortuitously, I saw an old computer in the corner, went on Facebook and in my drugged-up state recognised the name of an old school friend who I had not seen for about 30 years. I messaged him and instead of deleting, as most would, came and got me out.

On my release, my GP at the time was a wonderful lady who wrote to all my creditors explaining what had happened and bought me some time. A former work colleague (to whom I am now married), turned up on my doorstep – after being told not to come. After a while we got together and I sold my house. We decided to invest in property, went on a course, got a coach and moved up north where property was cheaper.

Over time, I developed serious back pain – slipped disc, sciatica and arthritis and was taking Tramadol and Gabapentin, very strong painkillers for this. I then developed a prostate issue and ended up on the floor screaming with pain, unable to urinate. I was taken to the hospital where they undertook a very uncomfortable procedure to facilitate this, arranged a biopsy, and gave me more pills. By now I had a pillbox which had my 24 daily pills sectioned off into morning, noon and night. I asked the doctor what would happen mixing all these different pills and he did not know.

Our property coach was an other-worldly type of person who was into holistic health, mind over matter, and could bend spoons with his mind like Uri Geller. He advised me to stop taking the pills and sent me to see a friend of his who was a kinesiologist. I took my pills to him and he told me that my body did not like any of them. He gave me some vitamins and minerals and I stopped all the medication

DO NOT DO THIS. GET YOUR DOCTOR’S ADVICE!

I spent 2 months shaking, sweating, hallucinating and feeling like I was going crazy. I rang the kinesiologist back and told him I could not do this and that I needed to go back on the medication. He advised me to get some colonic irrigation to flush my system out quicker. I took his advice and fortuitously the lady who undertook that procedure asked me if I had ever tried Bioresonance. I said I had never heard of it and she gave me the card of a practitioner.

First, he gave me some therapy before my first biopsy, after which the Consultant said he was not sure what was going on but booked me in for a further biopsy in a few weeks. I had some more Bioresonance and after that, the Consultant said that the good news was that I did not have cancer and that he was discharging me. I was delighted with this and went back to the Bioresonance Practitioner and asked if he could fix my back. I had several more sessions and the pain went. I went back to the gym, lost 2 stones, and regained my life.

I was delighted and asked him why more people did not know about this. I then told him we did not want to invest in the property anymore, to get me a Bioresonance device and teach me everything he knew.

The introduction to meditation and metaphysics through your coach marked a new chapter in your journey. How did these practices influence your healing and personal growth?

I realised that there was more to life than that which can be seen with the naked eye. The mind/body connection became so much clearer, as did the effect of our lifestyles, diet, exercise, sleep, hydration and stress – all pillars of the foundation of natural, holistic health. Since then every day has been a school day learning about the root causes of what makes people ill in our technologically advanced society

There have been terrific advances in medical science which are fantastic for emergencies such as accidents, surgery, stem cells and reconstruction. However, as a society, we are over-medicalised and need to focus on holistic methods before moving onto more intrusive pharmacological ones. In future, I hope for an integration of the best of both, it’s not an ‘either/or’ approach.

You have faced financial, emotional, and physical struggles throughout your life. Looking back, what do you believe was the key factor that kept you moving forward?

Focusing on the bigger picture, the result. To do this I have focused on a purpose. At one point it was homelessness, and while I still have input in that area, my main purpose now is health. Currently, in the UK there are now 2.8 million people off work sick. The psychological, physiological, emotional, societal and financial impact of this is massive.

I would also confess to an element of stubbornness mixed in with the resolve. I don’t like to see injustice, suffering, greed, and indifference.

If you could offer advice to someone currently struggling with depression, financial hardship, or identity crises, what would you say to them based on your own experiences?

Find the root cause first. Depression has an origin, and it’s not a chemical imbalance. People experience trauma at some stage in their lives and carry it. At some stage, it pops out and manifests in one way or another. This then impacts all other areas of life. Sometimes financial hardship is linked to a feeling of not being worthy to have financial stability or abundance, which can be linked to a lack of self-worth. Identity can be linked to how others see us rather than how we see ourselves, or we might internalise others’ perceptions more than our own. It is often easier to go with the crowd rather than forge our path and our own identity, and this takes work. However, I return to the point I made earlier which is that you cannot be everyone’s cup of tea, just be your own.

Empowering Minds: Chris Fronda’s Quest to Make Logic for Everyone

gmmag_editor August 30, 2024 No Comments

Chris Fronda is the creator of the LOGIC MOVEMENT, dedicated to making logic accessible to everyone. With a background as a Product Manager at a Fortune 1000 company and experience as a self-taught software developer and entrepreneur, he is considered an expert in logic and deep tech. Chris began his career at National Instruments, where he managed a $25 million product line, and later ran a systems integration business working with clients like Apple, NASA, and Pfizer. He has also been involved in cutting-edge web, mobile, and blockchain projects, including building apps that were ahead of Snapchat and Instagram. In 2018, Chris shifted his focus to researching Formal Logic, driven by a desire to address issues like misinformation, the education gap, and the future of learning. His passion led to the creation of Logictry, a platform designed to democratize access to knowledge and opportunity. Chris’s mission is to empower anyone with a desire to learn by providing the tools and resources they need to thrive. Through Logictry, he strives to make logic free and accessible to all.

Can you share the inspiration behind the LOGIC MOVEMENT and how your journey led you to prioritize the democratization of logic and education?

The inspiration for the LOGIC MOVEMENT stemmed from a deep-rooted passion for truth-seeking and problem-solving, nurtured by my early love for logic, debate, and chess. Growing up with a mother who was an educator focused on children with special needs and those from poor socio-economic backgrounds, I learned the importance of ensuring that every child has a chance to succeed. This belief in equal opportunity became a core value in my life. As I transitioned into the world of technology and entrepreneurship, I began to question how technology could be used not just to innovate but to address societal issues like misinformation and educational inequity. My research into Formal Logic, especially its teaching at institutions like Oxford, revealed the critical role logic plays in developing critical thinking and decision-making skills. The founding of Logictry on the same day the UN launched World Logic Day felt like a sign that this mission was both timely and necessary. The LOGIC MOVEMENT was born out of a desire to democratize access to logic and education, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can develop the skills to think critically and make informed decisions. In pursuit of bringing more public awareness to the LOGIC MOVEMENT Co-Founder and partner, Chelsea Toler, secured a partnership between the UN and Logictry to host World Logic Day in our home Austin, TX. Over the last three years and together with our team we have grown this convening to become the largest World Logic Day celebration in the world being recently featured on KXAN, KVUE, and FORBES.

How did your experiences as a Product Manager and entrepreneur shape your vision for making logic accessible to everyone?

My experience as a Product Manager at National Instruments, where I managed a $25 million product line, taught me the importance of creating products that are not only innovative but also accessible and beneficial to a wide audience. This experience, combined with my entrepreneurial ventures, reinforced the idea that technology should be a tool for empowerment. However, I also recognized that technology alone isn’t enough; it must be paired with educational resources that are accessible to everyone. This is where Logictry’s Interactive Content comes into play. By offering personalized learning paths and tools that guide individuals through complex decision-making processes, we aim to make formal logic not just an abstract concept, but a practical, everyday tool that can be used by anyone, anywhere.

What challenges did you encounter when transitioning from technology and product development to focusing on formal logic and education?

Transitioning from the tech industry to focusing on formal logic and education brought several challenges. One of the biggest was shifting from a product-driven mindset, where success is often measured by metrics like user adoption and revenue, to an education-driven approach, where the impact is more nuanced and long-term. Another challenge was making the abstract concepts of formal logic accessible and engaging to a broader audience. With Logictry, we tackled this by developing Interactive Content that doesn’t just teach logic but also guides users through real-world scenarios, helping them apply logical principles to complex decision-making. Lastly, there was the challenge of ensuring that our content was rigorous enough to be respected in academic circles while remaining accessible to everyone, particularly those who, like my mother’s students, might not have had the same education opportunities.

In your research on formal logic, what were the most significant findings regarding the impact of misinformation and the education gap on society?

One of the most significant findings was the interplay between misinformation and the education gap. Misinformation thrives in environments where critical thinking skills are underdeveloped, often in communities with limited access to quality education. This creates a vicious cycle: individuals without these skills are more susceptible to misinformation, which further hampers their ability to make informed decisions and limits their opportunities. I also found that while technology has the potential to democratize access to information, it can reinforce existing inequalities if not paired with efforts to enhance critical thinking and logic skills. This is why it’s crucial to integrate formal logic into mainstream education and why Logictry’s Interactive Content is designed to bridge this gap by offering tools that help users critically evaluate information and make better decisions.

How does Logictry work to bridge the wealth and education gaps, and what specific tools or resources does it provide to empower individuals?

Logictry bridges the wealth and education gaps by making logic and critical thinking accessible to everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background. Our platform offers Interactive Content that guides users through complex decision-making processes, helping them develop the skills they need to thrive. We provide personalized learning paths that adapt to each user’s knowledge level, ensuring that everyone can learn at their own pace. These tools are offered at little to no cost to eliminate financial barriers, making them available to individuals who might otherwise lack access to such resources. In addition, our content is designed to be relevant to real-world situations, enabling users to apply what they learn directly to their lives—whether that’s making better decisions at work, understanding complex social issues, or improving their academic performance. This approach not only helps bridge the education gap but also supports the impact my mother dedicated her life to achieving: ensuring that every child has a chance to succeed.

Your career includes working with high-profile clients like Apple, NASA, and Pfizer. How did these experiences influence your approach to problem-solving and decision-making?

Working with high-profile clients like Apple, NASA, and Pfizer taught me the importance of combining innovation with a deep understanding of user needs. These experiences showed me that the best solutions are those that are both groundbreaking and practical. This has influenced my approach to Logictry, where we emphasize evidence-based decision-making and the ability to think critically in dynamic situations. These clients also underscored the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives in achieving the best outcomes. At Logictry, we’ve applied these lessons by developing Interactive Content that not only teaches logic but also helps users navigate complex decision-making processes in a way that’s informed by diverse viewpoints and real-world challenges.

You’ve developed apps that predated Snapchat’s Snapmap and Instagram’s Reels. What insights can you share about staying ahead of the curve in tech innovation?

Staying ahead of the curve in tech innovation requires a combination of foresight, flexibility, and a willingness to take risks. When developing apps that predated Snapchat’s Snapmap and Instagram’s Reels, I focused on understanding not just where the market was but where it was heading. This involves staying informed about emerging technologies, understanding user behaviour trends, and being willing to experiment with new ideas before they become mainstream. Another key insight is the importance of focusing on the core value proposition—what unique benefit does your product offer that others don’t? By staying true to that core value, you can avoid getting lost in the noise of trends and fads. Finally, building a passionate and innovative team is crucial because it’s the collective creativity and expertise of a diverse team that drives true innovation.

The LOGIC MOVEMENT emphasizes equal opportunity in education. How do you envision this movement evolving in the future, especially with advancements in AI and digital learning?

As AI and digital learning continue to advance, I see the LOGIC MOVEMENT evolving to leverage these technologies to further democratize access to education. AI, for example, can be used to create highly personalized learning experiences that adapt to the needs of each student, ensuring that everyone can learn at their own pace and in a way that suits their learning style. This could be particularly transformative for those who have been underserved by traditional education systems. Additionally, as digital learning platforms become more widespread, the LOGIC MOVEMENT will focus on ensuring that logic and critical thinking are central components of these platforms. Logictry’s Interactive Content, for instance, is designed to guide users through complex decision-making processes, helping them build the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex and information-rich world. Ultimately, I see the movement growing into a global initiative, with partnerships across educational institutions, governments, and tech companies to make logic and critical thinking an integral part of education everywhere.

What role do you believe formal logic plays in improving decision-making in both personal and professional contexts, and how can it be integrated into mainstream education?

Formal logic plays a crucial role in improving decision-making by providing a structured framework for analyzing arguments, identifying biases, and evaluating the validity of information. In both personal and professional contexts, the ability to apply logical principles helps individuals make more informed and rational decisions, whether they’re navigating complex business challenges or personal life choices. Logictry’s Interactive Content is designed to teach these principles in a way that’s engaging and relevant to real-world situations, guiding users through complex decision-making processes step by step. To integrate formal logic into mainstream education, it’s important to start early, embedding logic lessons into the curriculum from a young age. This can be done through interactive methods such as games, puzzles, and real-world problem-solving scenarios that make logic both fun and practical. Additionally, educators should be trained to incorporate logical thinking across subjects, ensuring that students are consistently developing these crucial skills.

Looking back at your diverse career, what key lessons have you learned about the intersection of technology, education, and societal impact?

One of the key lessons I’ve learned is that technology, while a powerful tool, is only as impactful as the intent behind its use. At the intersection of technology, education, and societal impact, it’s crucial to approach innovation with a sense of responsibility—ensuring that the technology we develop serves to uplift and empower rather than exacerbate existing inequalities. I’ve also learned the importance of accessibility and inclusivity; if technology is to have a positive societal impact, it must be designed with the needs of all users in mind, particularly those who have been historically marginalized. Finally, I’ve come to understand that education is the most powerful tool we have for societal change. By using technology, like Logictry’s Interactive Content, to enhance and democratize education, we can address some of the most pressing issues of our time—from misinformation to economic inequality—and create a more just and equitable world, continuing the impact my mother dedicated her life to achieving.

Venture Capital Funds Predict a “Mass Extinction Event” for Startups in 2023

Michael Peres March 2, 2023 No Comments

Leading venture capital players are warning of a “mass extinction event” for early- and mid-stage startups in 2023. This is likely to surpass the global financial collapse of 2008 in scale, according to a new survey by research firm January Ventures. The survey, conducted between August and October 2022, polled 450 startup founders from the US and Europe, with 61% of respondents from the US and 32% from Europe. The findings indicate that 81% of early-stage startups are facing failure in 2023, as they had less than 12 months of capital left to continue their operations, due to VC funds turning off the spigot on seed funding last year.

An “Extinction Event” of Startups

The survey found that four out of five startups are at risk of failure in 2023, with less than 12 months of runway left. This means they have enough capital to sustain their operations, without generating revenue. The survey categorized respondents by the level of funding for their startup, with 48% of respondents stating they raised pre-seed funding, 32% raised seed funding, and 16% had not started raising funds yet. If 80% of early-stage startups go extinct, it will be the largest extinction event since the global financial system collapsed in 2008.

VC Industry Trends

In a tweet following January Ventures’ findings, Mark Suster, partner of Los Angeles-based venture capital firm Upfront Ventures, agreed with the survey’s predictions. He estimated that half of the 5,000 early-stage startups his company has funded over the past four years are at risk of going out of business. Suster said that excess capital has kept the number of startup failures artificially low for the past seven years. In the same Twitter thread, Tom Loverro, a venture capitalist at Silicon Valley-based investment firm IVP, predicted a “mass extinction event” for early- and mid-stage startups in late 2023 and 2024 that will surpass the epic collapse in 2008.

The total global venture capital funding dropped 32% in 2022, decreasing to below $300B from the $513B total in 2021, according to GlobalData. The data also shows a decrease in the number of seed funding rounds for early-stage ventures, with bigger deal sizes for growth stage deals. In Q4, there was a 24% drop in deal volume for growth stage deals.

Final Thoughts

The predictions of a “mass extinction event” for early- and mid-stage startups in 2023 is alarming. Startups need to focus on their runway and explore alternative funding options to sustain their operations. Venture capitalists also need to consider the impact of their actions on startups and take a long-term view on funding. The VC industry needs to rethink its priorities, particularly during tough times, to ensure the survival of the startup ecosystem.

Re-Wired: A Life on the Circuit

Editor @ Global Man February 9, 2022 No Comments

It’s quite a leap to go from electric guitar to electric car, but then again, Adam Kelbie is no stranger to remaking his career to suit his positive drive for happiness, as Yassin El-Moudden finds out.

The innovative founder of marketing firm, A Hand Online, and KLB Global Solutions opens up – on challenges he’s faced, why young men need direction and how he found himself playing Jackson Maine in a stage show adaptation.

And when the conversation turns to tech, the former All Together Now TV judge takes the chance to wax lyrical on his plans to bring the digital and social together: from cryptocurrencies and NFTs to tackling expensive fuel bills and building 8-minute homes!

All befitting for the Herts man who once set out on tours with his band, ready to “take on the world”!

“You just have to act and believe”

Take us back to a young Adam Kelbie in the early 2000’s music scene – what was the story behind you joining a band? Which groups influenced you and was there an element of you “finding yourself” through this musical journey?

Our music was a mixture of The Prodigy/Kasabian meets Madness. We were a very laddie band and I think that best describes this moment of my life. I really learnt how to write good songs with the team and there was no bigger rush than being up on stage performing them. We were just 6 lads taking on the world and it felt amazing.

I definitely found parts of myself that I liked and also discovered areas that really needed work. I learnt that you have to be persistent to achieve your goals. There are a lot of promises made in the music world. A lot of hype that sometimes doesn’t live up to what you expect. You could get down and disillusioned, or dust yourself off, believe in yourself and keep on battling.

Talk us through how you moved from travelling across the country on music tours to travelling across the world promoting the Formula E circuit. The last 2 years have seen any number of people switch and make radical career changes. How did you cope with adjusting and what advice would you give others?

For a couple of years after the music finished, I really did not know what to do with myself. I was stuck in some dead-end promotional work – giving out free samples of products and the like – and I noticed I was starting to get very low. I had NEVER actually thought about what I would do apart from music. In fact, I really did not know what I could do. All I knew was that I’d begun to get frustrated with myself, feeling as if I was not amounting to my true potential.

During this period of my life, I struggled with some mental health issues – having no direction can do that to a person. Still, I refused to give up on myself and when I was offered the chance to join the Formula E PR team, it really brought me back to life! All of a sudden, I had purpose. There were goals to achieve and I became part of a networking circle that you could only dream of being in. This really kick-started my corporate career and encouraged belief in myself.

I have seen many people, including my own brother, restart their careers during the last couple of years. I believe the pandemic gave everyone a chance to reflect. Are they happy doing what they are doing? Do they look forward to getting up and working on their own goals? Could they do something else? The answer is YES. You just have to act and believe. Then, you really can achieve what you want.

You moved into the world of business, with a focus on communication. You say that you helped CEOs out with improving their on-screen persona and networking at events. I note that you featured as a judge on a primetime BBC One talent show. To what extent would you describe yourself as an extrovert and does that stem from your touring days? Would you describe it as innate, or did you have to take steps to build your confidence?

Well, I am an entertainer at heart and I just can’t help but bring that into my social and business surroundings. I like to know what’s going on in the room and I like to build a happy environment. Does it make me stand out in a room because of my entertainment traits? Most certainly.

During lockdown, I asked myself “what is the best value that I can offer people?”. I took for granted how nervous people can get in front of crowds, peers or in face-to-face business meetings. For me, it’s always been a skill that I had to put aside or I would never have got up on stage or in front of the camera. I had no choice if I wanted to succeed in this career.

In modern times, I believe that the CEO’s and top execs are the rockstars of the business world. This is something they might never have trained in and may find it very uncomfortable. A good CEO knows he has to break through his comfort zone, and so I help them to believe in that side of their persona. That may involve working a room at a networking event, standing up on stage and giving talks or doing a piece to camera. It’s amazing how great these individuals are once they believe in that side of themselves.

“I’m an entertainer at heart and just can’t help but bring that into my surroundings”

At Global Man, we’ve recently been setting our sights on the future, from ecological sustainability to developments in new technology. As someone who has been involved in Formula E, the world of cryptocurrency and describes themselves as “a big campaigner for world energy solutions” (Hertfordshire Mercury), could you tell us some more about what draws you to this particular sphere, in addition to what you’re currently working on?

There are a lot of technologies out there that can really help the planet but unfortunately, they never see the light of day. They get swallowed up by the big boys or ridiculed, as it goes against what the bigger companies’ plans are. However, I believe that the tide is turning and with the introduction of raising money through cryptocurrency, a lot more of these projects will soon come to fruition.

As for me, I’m now working on modular homes that can help with the UK’s housing crisis and reduce carbon footprint – and it’s amazing technology! They can literally put up a house in 8 minutes, I kid you not.

Another project that I’m currently spearheading and raising finance for, is an NFT project involving real estate. Now, real estate is quite a stable investment but you need to have a lot of money to get involved in it. My project will ensure that anyone can invest in real estate and receive the gains, whilst also putting extra emphasis on building out social and affordable housing.

Banks don’t need to rebuild our nations and shouldn’t be the only ones to gain. We, the people, can both rebuild and reap those rewards.

In the past, I also raised money for waste-to-energy power plants. This is great technology and also should be paramount in helping to reduce the rising energy costs we’re all facing.

If I could pick up on your work and focus around affordable, social housing. Why did you decide to concentrate on the housing crisis as a matter to address? You’ve also used some profits to donate to the Red Cross. In light of post-pandemic developments, do you believe there needs to be a closer connection between business enterprises and social awareness, that they can’t be divorced from their surroundings?

Social and affordable housing is important to me because everybody needs and deserves a home. Home life is so important and there really is a shortfall of housing in the UK and across the world.

Raising money for the Red Cross is actually something I have been doing. I have been helping with an app along with some amazing guys over at a crypto currency platform. They are giving 10% of all proceeds to charity. Good on them.

There is definitely a responsibility that business leaders need to take on their shoulders in how we shape the world for the better. That’s to say, it should always concentrate on what’s good for the collective and not just for personal gain, as I believe some huge greedy companies are doing.

Like nearly everyone, you were adversely affected by disruption brought about in the pandemic. You were cast in a stage show that was brought to an early end. How was time during lockdown for you? Was it a time of reflection and how difficult (or otherwise) was it?

Yes, the tour was brought to an abrupt end as the pandemic spread and shows were cancelled. So, I used lockdown to reflect on how being on stage made me feel, and why I had built up these stupid beliefs that I had to do one or the other. Either be a performer or a businessman. Rubbish! I can do both and I will do both.

Founder of A Hand Online, Adam Kelbie, puts his hand to acting in a new theatre adaptation

Looking to the future, your stage show “A Star is Born This Way” – a theatre adaptation of “A Star is Born” – is ready to hit the roads again and go back on tour. You’ve said that you no longer have to choose between business and music – now it looks like we can add acting to the list! Where do you hope this path will take you and what can say to those who feel that they have to choose?

Although I do like acting, the stage show I was involved in, playing Jackson Maine, only featured songs from the famous movie. It was something I never expected to do again but when you are offered an arena tour and it’s a chance for your little nephews to see old Uncle Adam – you take it.

All we want in life is to be happy and I am happiest when helping others and being on stage myself. Why I ever thought I had to choose, is only because I allowed other people’s opinions to influence mine. Finally, I’ve realised that me being me – doing what makes me happy – is the only thing that brings the best Adam out in all walks of life.