Kindly hosted by PLP Architecture, April’s Lunch & Learn session offered the UK Young Leaders a chance to get inspired by Brendan Jarvis, Head of Real Estate EMEA in the Investment Banking division at Barclays.

Following a round table of introductions, Brendan shared his experience in Barclays since his first day in 1972, just couple of years before the Latin American debt crisis started. He described when at 24, with several years in banking, he was asked to run some courses to help other colleagues pass their professional banking exams. “I learned more about myself than I ever did”, he revealed with a nostalgic smile on his face.

In the 1980s Brendan relocated to London for his first Manager position, focused on managing the capital from Far East investors into Europe. It was just a few years later that London suffered a property cycle downturn in 1991. Brendan also experienced the collapse of the dot-com bubble in early 2000’s, ahead of the increased overseas investment into UK property assets, with a particular focus on London and Dublin. His team continued to grow exponentially until 2008, when the global financial crisis changed the world. Brendan confessed that this period was the toughest part of his career.

Questions and concerns were discussed, ranging from Brexit through to quantitative easing and economic indicators. When he was asked about Barclay’s preferred sectors, Brendan confirmed his positive view about logistics, still untapped in Eastern Europe, linked to the changing shopping experience. He also mentioned the innovative software technology such as “chatbots” as the latest bridge between digital and physical shopping.

Brendan inspired the crowd with his exemplar commitment to Barclays for the last 44 years and his daily enthusiasm to go to work. It is on this basis that he advised the Young Leaders to find something that they really like as the only way to excel at it. He also stressed the importance of preparation to gain confidence and move forward.

With his engaging story, Brendan enchanted the group as somebody who earned his way up to the top while remaining humble and passionate. A big thank you to Brendan for being such an inspiring leader.

Words by Maria-Pia Intini