Danny Brewster has been in the financial services industry for over 15 years.
He founded twentyone, a B2B financial services provider start-up, which is part of AAO Holdings group.
Here, he shares all the lessons he’s learnt.
Monday
Monday: A productive start
The beginning of my week comes in bright and early, with the unforgiving chime of the alarm clock at 5:30am. My dedication to a healthy lifestyle sees me lifting weights at the gym as the sun peeks over the horizon. A 25-minute warm-up, followed by a focused 45-minute weight training session targeting two specific muscle groups. Occasionally, I sprinkle in some cardio to the mix for a more comprehensive workout.
Arriving at the office in the still quiet morning, I jump into Asana, ready to tackle our task board head-on. Monday afternoons are typically reserved for flights to Dublin, where we’ve recently just set up our new office.
Come evening, it’s time to indulge at Hawksmoor, my favourite restaurant that just had a grand opening in Dublin. Thanks to my customer profile, I can tweak the menu to my liking – ditching the vinegar slaw for an extra serving of savoury ribs. For mains, it’s always the succulent medium-rare ribeye, doused in the heavenly bone marrow gravy, with a hearty serving of triple-cooked chips, creamed spinach, and seasonal greens on the side. To top it all off, a tantalising blueberry and lemon sorbet serves as a refreshing endnote to the feast.
Tuesday
Tuesday: Fostering growth, building blocks, and more travel
Tuesday sees me investing time with our newly formed Irish team, some of whom were just onboarding as I arrived. My day is punctuated by project meetings with the head of marketing for the Bitcoin side of AAO Technologies and the compliance team.
In a break from routine, I find myself personally involved in the onboarding process. While this isn’t common, it’s indeed invigorating to witness new talent being introduced into our business ecosystem. As we continue to lay the foundation for our Dublin team, it’s crucial to align each individual with our business objectives and future plans.
By evening time, I’m back on a plane to Manchester, conveniently nestled in a triangle – my office, Hawksmoor, and the gym, all within a 300-yard radius from my apartment.
Wednesday
Wednesday: From podcasts to leadership meetings
Wednesdays bring another early start at the gym followed by a trip to the world of podcasting. I recently recorded an episode for “The Startup Diaries” podcast, a medium that allows me to share my entrepreneurial journey and experiences. The afternoon is reserved for leadership meetings and 1-2-1 consultations with my direct reports and department heads – a process that often spills over into Thursday.
Thursday
Thursday: Coding, flying and team building
My Thursday morning is occupied with a key project – Checkmate, our internal KYC Platform, a responsibility I carry personally. Coding from my apartment, I enjoy uninterrupted focus, a luxury that the office’s hustle and bustle rarely affords me. Late in the afternoon, I jet off to the Isle of Man for a fun-filled practice session with the AAO team for the Viking boat race, a thrilling team-building exercise.
Friday
Friday: From dentist chair to code marathon
This Friday started at the dentist, followed by back-to-back meetings, and then an evening appointment with my barber. Post-grooming, it’s time to head back to the office for an all-nighter working on code. This commitment is primarily to support our engineering team who come in on Saturday’s, allowing me to provide the back-end for them to build upon.
