Our guest on this episode of Leaders With Ambition exemplifies what it means to carve out a career niche that dovetails perfectly with professional interests, goals, and talents.

Adrian Hyde, a Partner at Begbies Traynor Group, explains how he came to specialise as a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and pioneer a whole new type of business advisory services.

He shares with host Nicky Acuna Ocana his journey from growing up the son of a trade union organiser in the East Midlands region to 16 years as a Solicitor in private practice to evolving an enormously successful international (and entrepreneurial) business and crime asset recovery practice.

You’ll learn about the roots of CVR Global, its geographic footprint, expansion, and eventual happy acquisition by Begbies.

Adrian also highlights the ongoing role of mentorship as well as the reasons for his commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).

“You progress through your networking but you also progress by actually having the spark within you that gives you the confidence to go and do the networking,” says our guest. Find out what obstacles currently pose the biggest challenges for business and legal services and get an inside look at the fascinating landscape that shapes the work of Insolvency Practitioners day to da.

Key Takeaways:

Starting out: The diverse young life experience in the East Midlands as the son of a trade union organiser introduced Adrian’s worldview heading into university and beyond.

Jumpstart: What sparked Adrian’s early, ardent interest in the legal space (Hint: A TV drama.)

Competitive edge: How his temperament makes Adrian particularly well suited to his specialty.

Key direction: Why mentorship proved essential to Adrian’s professional development and along the way to his two main career goals: to be a Partner at a London-based firm.

Gathering focus: How Adrian grasped the opportunity to deepen his expertise and role as a credible Insolvency Practitioner (including navigating rigorous licensing exams).

Fostering equity: About the evolution and acquisition of the business recovery team that ultimately became CVR Global – the dawn of a new type of business advisory service.

Dramatic growth: What fuelled CVR Global’s growth, including staffing up from 30 to 100 and expanding the geographic footprint.

Winning combination;How the negotiation process that resulted in the terms of Begbie’s acquisition of CVR Global contributed to a surprisingly seamless transition.

Paying it forward: About Adrian’s service as president of the Insolvency Practitioners Association as a form of giving back, adding to the profession, and helping shape regulation.

Hybrid challenges: What it looks like to balance learning and development with workplace flexibility, including innovative approaches to improve recruitment.

Building confidence: About the benefits of experience accrued through apprenticeships and an immersive approach to learning on the job.Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

02:09 Adrian's Career Journey

08:03 From Law to Insolvency

14:16 The Desire for Partnership

19:53 The Importance of Mentorship

23:09 Determination and Focus

28:26 Creating Something Special

32:02 The Decision to Sell CVR Global

32:46 Introduction and Overview of Adrian Hyde's Experience

38:47 The Importance of Clear Communication and Avoiding Assumptions

51:46 Adapting to Increased Regulation and the Potential Impact of AI

57:02 Promoting Talent Development and Social Mobility through Apprenticeships

01:00:54 The Power of Never Assuming Anything