Volunteer Voices: Meet Alex 👋

Our volunteer community is made up of so many wonderful people from different career backgrounds, and we love to hear more about their experiences. This week, we want to introduce you to Alex Lauder, one of our fantastic volunteers who has been part of our community for five years!

We asked him a few questions about his motivation to volunteer and why he chose F4S. Here’s what he said ⬇️

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been volunteering with F4S…

⭐ “I’ve been volunteering with F4S for around 5 years. In that time, I’ve spoken on webinars, at school assemblies, and attended a school careers fair.  

I’ve had a varied career, firstly in management consulting, then banking, a stint as an entrepreneur, and now working for myself.  I’ve been lucky enough to live and work in some amazing countries along the way, including Hong Kong, Singapore, France, and Switzerland.  In 2008, I did an MBA at INSEAD in France, which was the best year of my life!  My greatest passion is travel, and I’ve visited nearly 60 countries; my favourite one would have to be Greece.”

Q: What’s your favorite part about volunteering?

⭐ “My favourite part about volunteering is making an impact and knowing that small changes today can have a big impact on people’s futures.  The subject I mostly speak about is financial planning, in a session which I call “Learn it before you burn it”.  Financial planning isn’t about predicting the future; it’s about preparing for it. Big life goals – such as buying a house, starting your own business, or deciding to travel the world – can feel impossible to achieve, but by breaking things down into small steps and taking action, your goal goes from dream to reality.”

Q: What motivates you to be part of the F4S mission?

⭐ “Something I’ve heard over and over is “no one tells you this stuff when you’re young!”  So my motivation is to share some really simple yet effective principles on how to get your finances off to a good start in life.  It’s not about how much money you have, it’s about making the right decisions in your twenties. If young people gain some clarity and take those first steps, then I feel like I’ve made a difference.”

 Q: How has volunteering impacted you?

⭐ “Volunteering connects me to others and makes me feel a part of the community. Sharing my experience with others brings a sense of purpose, which is quite different from what I do in my day job.”

 Q: What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering?

⭐ “I would say jump in and don’t look back!  Choose something you’re passionate about, as that way you’ll be most likely to bring energy and enthusiasm to the topic.  Volunteering isn’t just about helping others; you’ll gain new skills and discover more about yourself in the process.”

Inspired by Alex’s story? Join our volunteer community today and help shape the next generation’s future! Sign up here 🚀

We’d love to hear from you! 🙂