Inside track: On poetry and Powerpoint

Running a business is often about numbers and data, but Shamil Thakrar says it’s vital to retain some of the poetry

I have a confession to make. I was once a management consultant. I used to work feverishly through the night before scurrying off to the first flight and, bleary-eyed, giving what I sincerely believed was sage advice to clients. I was a whizz at rustling up 100-slide Powerpoint decks.

I was so completely soused in this stuff that my mind used to work in slide format – each separate thought with seven bullet points, maximum.