“I’M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH, WHO DO GREAT THINGS. WHAT I DO, AND THE SECTOR I DO IT IN, FASCINATES ME. I GET UP EVERY MORNING GENUINELY EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL ‘WORK’. FOR ME, IT’S FREEDOM – THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.”
Michael Burne
What do you do?
I’m the Founder and Chief Executive of Carbon. The business was my initial idea, but I’m not precious with it. It’s my job to lead us to success – it’s about shaping a collaboration based on a shared vision. I am striving to create the conditions for exceptional people to flourish. It’s a continuing challenge and our work is progressing because of the amazing team that we have.
I’m extremely proud of the people I work with, who do great things. What I do, and the sector I do it in, fascinates me. Leading Carbon is a privilege. It’s like a hobby. I get up every morning genuinely excited about going to what most people would call ‘work’. For me, it’s freedom – this is what I want to do.
What does success look like to you?
It’s a sense of satisfaction at building something brilliant so that people can achieve their potential. Success is not a single moment in time, it’s a journey, an unfolding story. It is doing excellent work, with great people and achieving fantastic results. For me, writing our story, in our own words represents success.
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by pioneers of all types. Whether they explore the world around us, or create businesses that are new and exciting.
I blame my family for my own adventurous streak. It’s in the genes. My granddad was a civil engineer who ran projects building oil pipelines for the Shah of Iran in the 1960s – he spent a lot of his time leading teams in the desert working out how to get things done. My Dad was a pioneer too. He ran a travel business and created different ways of working in an era when Concorde was new and a mobile phone was science fiction. He challenged convention and broke moulds to create better ways of delivering great service to his clients. The best thing I’ve done is to accept my pioneering streak and get on with it in my own way. Pushing boundaries is part of being human, and I believe there’s a pioneer lurking in all of us!
Tell us about you, bravery and achievements?
Taking that leap, backing myself and starting Carbon – that felt brave to me! It was a big, bold step. I’ve achieved many things in my professional life, but seizing this opportunity by the horns and getting to where we are today leaves my other achievements in the dust.
To me, bravery and achievements aren’t always about setting goals and going all out for them. I’ve always thought that one of my smartest moments was just listening to someone who saw potential in me. Malcolm Ross was a tutor on my law degree course. He helped me transform my understanding of law and achieve the academic success that started my journey in our profession. He helped me unlock potential – something that’s stayed with me. Hence that is what Carbon is about – unlocking potential.
Expertise & Accreditations
- LLB(Hons) First Class, University of Leicester
- Law Society Finals, College of Law, Chester
Admitted as a solicitor, September 1995
