POD PEEK - Passionately Pro Active with Karl Pemberton

Here's your chance to hear a few of the many highlights featuring in this fascinating podcast.

Just 90 seconds provides a flavour of the conversation with one of the most influential business leaders in the north of England.

Our guest's early dreams of being a high flyer were more focused on a career in the RAF than the world of finance. Karl Pemberton's career took off when he joined Yorkshire Bank's management training scheme. After a series of promotions and switch to RBS he responded to his father's call for support, after a serious illness, stepping in to help run the business.

15 years on and having successfully managed the business through a global recession, pandemic and his own health scare he's also found time to join the Goldman Sachs 10,000, support numerous charitable bodies and Chair the regional network of the Institute of Directors. Meanwhile alongside long term business partner Paul Gibson, the company has continued to evolve and grow.

This is a fascinating insight into a career enhanced by an ability to reflect, take stock and be self aware enough to accept where skills were required and be open to the ideas and experience offered by others.

Karl is one of the most influential business leaders in the North of England. Widely acknowledged and respected for his passionate belief in "doing the right thing" not the easiest or offer of short term gain. He's built a strong team of dedicated professionals who follow his ethos and have themselves learnt from working in such a positive environment.

Proof indeed that "Good Guys" can be winners.

Bio – Karl Pemberton CDir, FIoD, Dip PFS

Managing Director - Active

Karl’s career began at Yorkshire Bank in 1995 where he quickly progressed to Private Banking Manager for high-net-worth clients.

From Yorkshire Bank, Karl moved to RBS as an Investment Banking Manager where he spent two years before joining Active as MD in May 2007.

Karl says, “The banking profession provides excellent grounding for a company director, as you gain a unique insight into company structure, processes and management.”

In 2013, Karl was part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme at Leeds University Business School which is aimed to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity.

In 2017 Karl became a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and 2 years later he was appointed Chair for the IoD North East (South region).

In this role Karl works with other local businesses to drive the IoD forward and ensure that the voice of local businesses is heard. In addition to this, Karl is a Trustee of local charity, Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation (MTPF) and has taken on several fund-raising challenges over the years, including reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2018 in aid of mental health charity MIND.

Podcast Outline

• Karl's Early Life
• Career Progression
• Business Ownership – Expectations and Reality
• Challenges and Importance of Forward Planning
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 experience
• Chair of the IoD
• Financial Planning in Turbulent Times
• Best piece of advice you were given in business

Series 5 of the Insight podcast is simply titled “The Professionals” and will feature individuals with skills and experience in a chosen field or fields.