Anthony Jackson

I’ve always been on the move. I’d lived in ten different houses in five different countries before I turned 18 but, regardless of where I was, there was always sport. I love its capacity to generate passions and create memories that last forever. As a participant I’ve skied a marathon, won the world’s oldest rugby competition and been down three Olympic bobsleigh runs. As a fan, I’ve travelled to Australia on my own for the Ashes, taken in an NBA game that just happened to have John Legend play at half-time and watched sumo-wrestling in Japan.

Prior to Gemba I worked at a strategy consulting firm and sought out sport projects wherever I could, such as PE investors looking to deploy capital in sport, live event ticketing or OTT streaming. Before that I was a tourist attraction in the British Army and also deployed on operations in Afghanistan. In between I took a cricket tour to Barbados and did a couple of seasons of Nordic skiing. If allowed, I’ll talk for many hours about how brilliant biathlon is.

My role at Gemba is to help our clients answer their knottiest strategic questions, breaking down complex issues into simple choices or solutions – all underpinned by rigorous analysis and the brilliant work of our Data & Insights and Turnstile rockstars.

06:50 Try not to knock everything off my bedside table while turning off the alarm. Grab a quick shower

07:00 Wake the kids (if I’m lucky) and coax them downstairs for some breakfast. Persuade them that eating breakfast is really important before taking on the challenge of dressing them and remembering a baffling array of after-school clubs, clothing and accessories, and homework

07:55 Head out in convoy with them on bikes and me trundling behind on my Brompton

08:00 Bang down the gate of nursery and drop off #2 kid

08:25 Drop of #1 kid at school then hop on the tube with one of the array of sports business podcasts for company

09:00 Arrive in the office a picture of calm and professionalism, unflustered, on-time and focused on the day and ready to deliver

09:30 Catch up with the team on the crocodiles closest to the Strategy canoes

10:00 Check in with clients and emails, especially if our Australian colleagues have been beavering away overnight

11:00 Churn through some analysis, dipping into our brilliant well of experience and frameworks

12:30 Wander over to the latest sandwich joint – probably the one where the guy forgets my order and blames me

13:00 Stave off the post-lunch dip and catch up with Claire. We’ll look at what how our projects are progressing and where there are exciting client opportunities. Avoid talking about Padel

13:30 Head down again on client work, maybe reviewing data we’ve been shared from our research or output from the team

15:00 While resisting the office snacks, I’ll review some applications for the growing Gemba family

17:00 Nip off quickly to get in a quick workout, probably something CrossFit-y

19:00 Open the door to be greeted like a returning hero by the kids before packing them off to bed after a story

19:30 Dinner with my wife followed by another bit of work, ensuring I know where I’m meant to be the next day. Maybe an episode of something.

22:30 Bedtime with a book