The Extraordinary Transition of Micky Yule: Army Veteran, Paralympian, Banker

 

Exploring Yule's Journey

 

How have you found the transition from military and sport into banking?

There are pressures attached to all jobs. I wouldn't advise doing any of those jobs if you don’t want to be put under a certain level of pressure or under that microscope. But it's all about the team. I had a great team when I was in Afghanistan. I had a great team around me when I was going to the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and I've got a great team around me now in banking.

My ability not to get too caught up as the pressure comes on is one of the core transferable skills I carry through. A lot of times humour will bring the team together even in the most pressured circumstances.

 

Insights into Banking as an Ex Military

 

What drew you to banking?

I was a funded athlete, but only one mistake and I’d have torn my pec off the bone and I would be gone. There was no security in the job.

It was only when I was 42 that I thought I need to get some security around this life that I'm living. I didn't really want to go into coaching or security, but wanted to challenge myself. So I just googled what was the biggest investment bank in the world. Then I checked if it was based in the UK and to my surprise there were offices in London and Bournemouth not far from where I live.

With the support of my performance lifestyle advisor, I started doing courses, improving my academic record, and networking. I was highly driven and wanted to work for BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, or JP Morgan. Now coming up for 2 years at JP Morgan.

 

What would you say was the most difficult part of transitioning into your corporate job?

I didn’t find anything particularly challenging; It's a performance-based area, which I like.

I like the performance-based acceptance and environment around it because it's what I'm used to. I perform well in sports, I win medals. If I perform well in the military, I get promotion.

 

Planning for Life After Military & Sports

 

When should you start thinking about, life after military and sports?

By your second day on the job, this should be a priority. Managers and senior NCOs must ensure every soldier is well-prepared to eventually step into their roles. If soldiers aren't equipped with at least a degree or equivalent, then the managers are failing in their duties.

It's like sport, the minute you begin, you should be planning how you're going to exit sport. You should be leaving with multiple job experiences with the connections you can get through the military and elite sport, probably with some of the biggest companies in that space, you should be academically ready to crossover immediately. Remember competing in elite sport or military is what sets you apart. It's the magic that made the difference for me. If I went back now, I would be pushing everyone in my team to be proactively getting ready to go out.

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Coping with Adversity: Dealing with Disability & Discrimination

 

How do you personally deal with your disability? Have you experienced adversity and discrimination?

It's tough. I never appreciated what I had enough. However, I am 100% a better person since I got injured because I realised what it's like to get looked at more when you go out.

Before, no one looked at me. This is a bit of a strange feeling. I was just a normal dude. I would out to go shopping nobody seemed to notice.

Now I’m the guy that's got prosthetic legs. I could go in a pub and if I was wearing shorts in the summer, almost any type of person or situation could come by, but still the focus would ‘Where are his legs?’.

Kids are so much better than adults. Kids will come over and go: “Oh, hi, mister. How what happened? Why you got metal legs?”. Adults who just stare and stare and again, and you think, you should have more appreciation that this might be a little bit uncomfortable for me. I would say to them, “that's a bit of a strange look. Just come over and speak to me”. Please come over and just ask me.

 

Do you have any fond military or sporting memories you would like to share?

My daughter's called Tilly, and she was too little to go to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. My son, Charlie, went, and I promised him a top medal, though came fourth.

I thought, oh dear, it’s probably going to be his first memory of his dad. I said to myself, “Right, Tilly is going to come to the next Games because there's no way I won't medal if she's there”.

The Commonwealth Games are only every 4 years. The Birmingham Games, where I knew that I was going to retire, I wanted her to be there because, in my head, I couldn’t not podium if she was there.

I made it to the podium and gave her the medal after it.

 

Interview conducted by Oxford University Student-Athlete and Royal Navy Cadet Alisa Brown