Experienced University Lecturer Offering Interactive Online Lessons in Business, Marketing, and Management for A Level Students and Beyond

Find out more about Ray

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I have had an entrepreneurial mindset for most of my life. I have been operating my own business since my mid-20s and enjoy the challenge and freedom that this provides. It was after I went to business school to complete my Master of Business Administration (MBA) that I became very interested in the strategy of business. Through my work, I deliver lectures and give conference presentations and enjoy the opportunity to pass on knowledge to others. Therefore, tutoring is a continuation of what I have already been doing but in a more personal way.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I focus on business studies for A-level and undergraduate students. I like to connect the topic that a student is learning with real-world business cases and examples. Recently I was working with a student who has an interest in sport, so we focused on the Nike business to make sure that the topics he was learning were relatable to a company he used and understood.

• 3) Did you have any role models; or a teacher that inspired you?

  There were two Physical Education teachers whom I greatly admired when I was doing my A-levels. It was because of them that I chose to study sports psychology for my first degree. I connected with them because they were the first teachers who recognised me as a young adult. They were friendly and relatable, and their teaching style felt more like mentoring than formal teaching.

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  You have got to be deeply interested in the topic you teach and find interesting ways to bring subjects alive using relevant and interesting examples. You also need to develop trust and connection with students by creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. I like using analogies and metaphors as a learning tool because I believe this is an interesting way to simplify complex topics. What 'recipe' is this successful business using? How can we use a Swiss Army knife as an analogy to show the complexity of a business?

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  When I was applying to study for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Business School I was asked to do some timed aptitude tests which I did not do very well on. During my subsequent interview, the professor had doubts that I would be able to keep up with the course, but I told him that I was very motivated and would commit fully to my studies. He reluctantly offered me a place on the MBA programme, but I went on to pass every piece of work and all the exams. What I learnt from this experience is that if you are passionate about starting something then persist and persuasively argue your case.

• 6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  Business studies cover an enormous range of topics, so you can never stop learning. It is helpful if you also work to understand the financial and more numerical side of business which may not be easy for some students. My advice would be to persist as being able to read and understand company accounts and financial forecasts is an important skill that transfers to other areas of your life.

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I have become more interested in how business can be used to solve societal issues while at the same time being financially successful. This touches on the principle of a 'triple bottom line'. This is the idea of a company focusing on profit, people, and the planet. I am also very interested in the founder's story which is to understand why people chose to start the business in the first place and how this provides the energy to push through when challenges arise.

• 8) What makes you a SuperProf (besides answering these interview questions )

  I have seen how education has transformed my life and I would like to support students to transform theirs as well. For me, it was not until I was 16 that I really started to fall in love with learning but when I did, I just did not want to stop.