Andy Allaway

My background is in IT sales and sales management; specifically working within IT storage and security. I got bored of the cubicle life and took a year out to travel around India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. When I got back I swore I’d find a way to combine travelling and a career.

I was a longtime podcast listener and there is just something about the company that looks awesome from the outside (and I still feel the same way on the inside I should add!!). It looked to me like a group of people living life on their own terms; running a killer business and travelling the world. That was exactly what I was after.

These days I have overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business, so I’m kept fairly busy!

My days are pretty varied and throughout the week I’ll touch most parts of the business. I’m fortunate to have an incredible team in place who are on top of everything.

I don’t have too much time for side projects but I do run a little Sunday morning leadership newsletter called The Leader Sip.

I love digital product or course businesses. There are so many amazing examples of solopreneur businesses where the founder has a little bit of specialist knowledge, built an audience around that by delivering high-value content and then leveraged that to sell courses or alike for people who want more structured learning.

I love those businesses. They’re not always the easiest to transition once the seller is taken out of the business it’s definitely possible if it’s been built carefully.

Podcasts are my main content vice as I have a lot of dog-walking time to fill each week. Current favourites in my rotation include:

• All-In
• Moment of Zen
• Founders
• Invest Like The Best
• Acquired

It’s not all business though. You’re just as likely to find me listening to The Sweet Spot golf podcast!

That I’m capable of getting a decent suntan!

Definitely the time I spent a month riding a motorbike from Saigon to Hanoi. Stretches of the Ho Chi Minh trail are stunning, the people were super friendly the entire way; nothing comes close.

I don’t know. I’ve seen it but TV shows just don’t stick in my memory. I could start it again now and it would be pretty close to watching a brand new series for me.

I’m taking Ross in our vetting team.

He’d be useless at almost every aspect of being stuck on an island but he’s the only team member who can match me in David Brent quotes so that should pass the time.

A good idea is a good idea forever.