大象传媒

Damon Buffini, boss of the private equity firm Permira, told pupils at Rushey Mead School in Leicester about his journey from being brought up on a council estate by a single parent to working for some of the UK鈥檚 top companies.

Entrepreneur Damon Buffini inspires pupils with story of overcoming perceived disadvantages to get to the top of business tree.

Reporter Sima Kotecha said the school, where 98% of pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds, is ambitious for the children to succeed.

Damon, who studied at Cambridge University and Harvard Business School, advised young people from ethnic minorities to stay positive and not to be put off by anyone:

鈥淢otivating them wherever they are, whatever they are, to do the best they can, that鈥檚 crucial,鈥� he said.

When questioned by one of the pupils on whether being black in 1970's Leicester was tough, Damon said:

"There was quite a lot of tension in Leicester in the 70鈥檚. But I never felt that it held me back in any way. Of course you come across some people who are ignorant."

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