Tony Fish, Adventurer, Pioneer & Maverick
Digital and Data Thought Leadership, Digital20 | Chair Board Committee Data Ethics and Privacy, Volt Bank | Co-Founder and Chief Digital Officer, My Club Group | Visiting Lecturer: AI and ethics, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | Visiting Fellow, Henley Business School | Member, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence (APPG AI) | Co-Founder, CDO, Allternet | Author, My Digital Footprint | Managing Director, AMF Ventures
Tony Fish thrives in complex, ground-breaking and uncertain environments; bringing proven judgement and decision-making skills and experience.
He has a track record of sense-making and foresight; his enthusiasm and drive are contagious & inspiring—definitely a maverick and unintentional rule breaker.
Tony’s current focus is on imaging a board meeting in 2025, rethinking corporate governance models, data economics and dealing with volatile situations.
He has founded, co-founded, sold and listed many businesses but remains passionate about new ways of creating value which has the capability of scaling fast, are at an early stage and creates value for many people.
In addition to speaking at over 300 events and conferences on data, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital trends and early-stage growth, he has authored and published three books.
“Be strong, but not forceful. Be confidence but not arrogant. Recognise those who are supporting you and on whose work you build on. You are never aware or sure what is going on in someone else's life or mind, so I don't judge why, but will encourage them to try again, "Just one more.".”
Tony Fish
He is a visiting Fellow at Henley Business School for entrepreneurship and innovation, EIR at Bradford School of Management, teaches at London Business School and the London School of Economics in AI and Ethics and he is an EC expert for Big Data (CENG, FIET, FBCS, FCIM, FRSA).
Tell us about your current role and what you like about your career or areas of focus.
My current focus is on how to provide data with provenance and lineage to the board, which will improve governance, oversight and decision making.
What inspires you, motivates you, helps you to make each day count?
Giving back as many have given to me and knowing that today can be the last day, life is short and precious. Cancer changes lives.
Outside of your professional work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Encouraging my daughters to follow their passions (sustainability and nutrition) I am an engineer and spend time making things.
When it comes to your life chosen career, is there a phrase, quote or saying that you really like?
I have never had a job and never done the career thing—left school without the basic qualifications as severely dyslexic. Followed what I enjoy and had a lot of luck on the way.
As a life saying "success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the attitude to continue that counts." - Winton Churchill
What are you most proud of in your life?
My daughters, who are full of passion and will change the world, leaving an impact far greater than mine.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Spend a week in a graveyard reading the tombstones to determine what we think is the most important about life.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles?
Anyone who continues to learn and move their thinking forward, are open-minded and remain a beacon for learning, teaching and discovery. Therefore a long list.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I am not and have never been a brand person; every day, I am in early-stage startup land, creating better versions of what is available.
The opportunity is that no-one is getting it right, but we can make it better. Better right now is being a better ancestor and not burning the earth. Cheaper, faster quicker is not my focus.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Just one more."
It is always amazing how much further you can go than your body or mind will allow.
As an adventurer, often just one more gets you out of trouble, and equally into trouble. 😁
What drives or motivates you each day in a work environment?
People and learning from the next generation, they teach me so much each day.
What are your thoughts on the future of social media?
I read Jeff Jarvis and defer to his viewpoint as a leading voice. His opinion changes every month, so I expect I don't know any better.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
This is all about to change again. The important companies are just emerging from a pandemic and much learning, but those focus on wellness, mental health and supporting communities are looking like a stronger bet.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever been a mentor to anyone?
Yes, since I was 17 based on a recommendation from my dad. Had 9 mentors in total and still have two. I mentor a lot.
How do you network? What is your prefered way to network?
How I did it is passed. We need to find new ways, and I am working on a platform to do this right now—really good fun as getting to re-imagine human interactions.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work?
Be strong, but not forceful. Be confidence but not arrogant.
Recognise those who are supporting you and on whose work you build on.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
You are never aware or sure what is going on in someone else's life or mind, so I don't judge why, but will encourage them to try again, "Just one more.".
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience?
I avoid it. Success is a measure someone else gives you. I prefer to determine if I am happy and able to help others. Success is a trap.
What skills do you feel have helped you to become successful?
I have not got them. I depend on teams and people about me.
I muck along for the ride.
Is there anything new that you are working on or involved in that you would like to share?
a. How do we hold boards to account for burning the earth?
b. How do we reward teams for being better ancestors?