This episode of Social Confoes features Leslie Lee Fook, a renowned digital transformation strategist and business legend, sharing his transformative journey from selling pizza cards in the UK to pioneering in digital transformation and AI in the Caribbean. Leslie's story begins with the pivotal moment of selling nine pizza cards, which taught him the power of sales and persuasion, fundamentally changing his life. His move to the UK brought challenges and opportunities, leading him to the IT sector, where a work grant for an MCSE course set his tech career in motion. He discusses the evolution of his career, venturing into business intelligence with Tableau, and eventually focusing on AI and automation to revolutionize business processes, achieving what equates to adding 365 employees without increasing payroll. Leslie emphasizes the importance of self-help, the underrated potential of AI and automation, and his views on venture capital, Bitcoin, and other topics in a series of rapid-fire 'overrated or underrated' questions. He also expresses his profound love for the Caribbean and Suriname, highlighting the unmatched quality of life, despite the pitfalls in economies reliant on oil and gas. Leslie concludes by offering listeners access to his AI workshop, promoting a future of digital empowerment and business innovation.
Episode Overview
* 00:00 Introduction
* 02:02 Meet Leslie
* 04:01 Leslie's Daring Swim and the Power of Overcoming Fears
* 05:37 Exploring Leslie's Unique Cultural Background and Family Dynamics
* 13:03 The Pivot to Technology: A Tale of Grants, Grit, and Growth
* 17:30 From Door-to-Door Sales to IT Success: Leslie's Transformative Journey
* 25:22 The Art of Persuasion and Its Impact on Leslie's Career
* 26:25 Navigating Racism and Embracing Caribbean Identity in the UK
* 30:29 A New Chapter in London: From IT to the Cupboard
* 32:07 The Struggle and Success in London's Competitive Landscape
* 34:50 Returning to Trinidad: A Pivot Towards Entrepreneurship
* 36:52 Embracing Data and Business Intelligence for Growth
* 41:56 The Power of Email Marketing and Expanding Territories
* 43:58 The Philosophy of Decision Making and Embracing Failure
* 52:10 The Underrated Value of Automation and AI
* 55:09 Closing Thoughts: Overrated, Underrated, and the Future
Connect with Leslie on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/leslieleefook
Hosts
