When I co-founded Conservative Friends of Bangladesh, some people thought I was just making a political move.

But to me, it was a natural extension of leadership.

Business and Politics Are Both About People

In business, you’re always negotiating — listening, persuading, finding common ground. In politics, it’s the same. You’re advocating for voices that might not otherwise be heard.

I saw that firsthand when I brought political figures to Brick Lane — including William Hague MP, then Leader of the Opposition; Baroness Warsi, the Party Co-Chair; Francis Maude, the Party Chairman; Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London and later Prime Minister; and many more — to see not just our restaurants, but our community’s dreams.

Building Bridges, Not Walls

Politics taught me that change doesn’t happen in silos. You have to invite others in — even if they don’t fully understand your world yet.

It’s the same in business. If you want to grow, you have to build bridges — with customers, with partners, with competitors.

Final Thoughts

Politics and business are both about service. Not to yourself, but to the people who trust you.

If you remember that, you’ll never lose your way.