One of the most powerful moments in my conversation with Neil Burrows was when he spoke about a young person being told they weren’t clever enough to become an engineer.
That story, and the way Neil responded to it, summed up so much of what our latest ‘Lead, Learn + Grow’ conversation was about: seeing potential in people and helping them recognise it in themselves.
Neil spoke openly about leaving school with three O Levels and being told he would never go to university. He began his career as an engineering apprentice, but after an accident forced him to rethink his future, it was the support of a former trainer, Bernard, that helped him find a new direction.
What struck me was how that experience has shaped the way Neil leads today. He is passionate about making sure young people aren’t defined by exam results, their background or someone else’s expectations of what they can achieve.
The story of the aspiring engineer brought this to life. While others had told the young person what he couldn’t do, Neil focused on what he could do and the opportunities available to help him get there.
It’s a reminder that not everyone starts from the same place. Sometimes, all it takes is someone willing to listen, encourage and open a door.
Another theme that stayed with me was Neil’s approach to leadership. He is a strong believer in surrounding himself with talented people and creating an environment where they can succeed. Rather than feeling threatened by people who know more than him, he sees it as an opportunity to keep learning.
I also liked how Neil described himself as a “custodian” of Burnley College. That word says a lot. It reflects a sense of responsibility for the students, employees and wider community, and a desire to leave things better than he found them.
Neil was refreshingly honest about experiencing imposter syndrome as he stepped into senior leadership. His answer wasn’t to ignore it, but to keep learning, keep listening and trust the experience that had brought him to that point.
For me, this conversation reinforced an important truth: while we should never underestimate the difference we can make to someone else’s future, we should remain humble enough to recognise how much we can still learn from others, regardless of where we are in our careers.
Whether you’re a leader, mentor, colleague or friend, taking the time to encourage someone and believe in their potential can make more of a difference than you realise.
