Our finance industry and its associated professional service industries are the cogs that drive the engine of Jersey, creating a brilliant living environment for us all. But at what cost? On both a corporate and personal level, many seek to marry our lives behind a desk with an alternative, more fulfilling pastime or activity to provide creative or moral equilibrium.
From a business perspective, the ability to donate some of your profits or share your human capital in pursuit of a worthy or fulfilling goal is the perfect complementary offset to hard, fast shareholder rewards. If it’s something you can get your staff’s enthusiasm and personal interest behind, all the better. Our cover this month highlights the support Mourant has been giving to Ocean Culture Life as a ‘Partner in Purpose’. Part of their support enables the World Ocean Week activities taking place as this magazine hits the streets. Meet some of their team on page 28. ESG* and CSR** are all part and parcel of a good company report. Great programmes like Durrell’s ‘Rewild Carbon’ also make it super easy these days for businesses to tick the offset box without having to hunt too hard.
But what about us, on a personal level? We all seek to find that thing that makes us feel fulfilled and better about our existence. Ideally, you’d have that both inside and outside of work. Many can’t get that fix through their nine-to-five, so whether it’s offsetting your sedentary existence with an Ironman training programme, your spreadsheet squint with sea swimming, or legal wrangling with an artistic sideline, it’s all about balance.
Gallery seeks to reflect the creative, culturally rich content and activity of our islanders. It’s brilliant to be able to feature both those who find fulfilment carving success in the business world and those who follow a passion, hoping that life makes sense further down the line. This month we meet artists, filmmakers, conservationists, tattooists, singers, yogis, photographers, beekeepers and a cross-section of local Genuine Jersey producers. It’s these alternative pursuits and passions that are the yin to the yang of those striving to be the future professional heads of industry. If you can achieve the Tao and combine the two… well, you win – perfect balance.
BD
*Environmental, Social and Governance ** Corporate Social Responsibiltiy
