Artist to Lawyer - Rob Harrison's career pivot
What if your career turns out exactly how you hoped, just not in the way you expected?
In this episode of Annette Minihan's Podcast, Annette speaks with Rob, who grew up in Liverpool dreaming of being "bigger than Andy Warhol", studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, graduated into a recession, then reinvented himself into a global trade finance lawyer working across major banks.
This is a story about creative identity, making bold pivots, creating opportunity through work ethic, and building relationships that quietly shape your future.
What you'll learn in this episode
• Why graduating in a recession forces clearer choices (and faster pivots)
• How Rob retrained into law through self-funding and long hours
• The "under an hour" training contract story: opportunity can move fast when you've earned trust
• Why going in-house changed everything and brought him closer to the business side of deals
• The moment trade finance clicked, and why it felt like "Lego all day"
• How creativity shows up in unexpected careers through structure, problem-solving, and communication
• What different bank cultures taught him (UK vs German vs Japanese vs US influence)
• Career management that works: own your career, build your network, maintain relationships
Key moments
• Fine Art degree, recession graduate reality check
• Pivot to law, paralegal grind, training contract offer out of nowhere
• Moving in-house at Lloyds Banking Group and discovering trade finance
• Later roles including Barclays and Deutsche Bank
• Bringing it full circle: a client dealing in Andy Warhol prints
• Now working globally at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Rob's best career advice
• Nobody will manage your career for you
• Network intentionally, you never know when paths reconnect
• If you really want a career, you'll do what it takes, and often you're building it before you realise it
If you want more real career reinvention stories, subscribe and share this with someone who's questioning their next chapter.
Contact details:
Annette Minihan - please connect via
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annetteminihan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annetteminihan/]
Newsletter - https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008 [https://annetteminihan.kit.com/5cb119b008]
Website- www.careersunpacked.com [https://www.careersunpacked.com]
Rob Harrison via LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/robert-harrison-lawyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-harrison-lawyer/]
