19 Aug 2025

LISTEN: The impact of BYPY on boards and beyond

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Welcome to the latest episode of The Future Faces Podcast, the official podcast celebrating the energy, ambition, and achievements of young professionals across Greater Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Host Sophie Poduval-Morrell dives into the stories behind the region’s rising stars — with a special focus on 25 years of the BYPY (Birmingham Young Professional of the Year) Awards.

In this episode, Sophie sits down with Karl George, the overall winner of the 2002 BYPY Awards.

Corporate governance expert Karl George was just the second Birmingham Young Professional of the Year back in 2002.

Marking 25 years of the prestigious award – now the GreaterBirmingham Young Professional of the Year - Karl joins us to reflect on how the achievement helped establish his reputation in West Midlands business circles.

As a rising star in his own small accountancy firm, Karlemerged as the winner in the finance category ahead of young professionals from a number of the bigger firms, before going on to win the overall award.

Now a leader in corporate governance, Karl also discusses how young professionals can benefit from joining boards.

Whether you're just starting out, looking to grow your career, or want to connect with Birmingham’s professional community, this podcast is here to celebrate your journey, spotlight real stories, and champion the next generation of leadership.

You can get in touch with Karl via ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠. Follow us for insights, inspiration, and real talk about career development, networking, city pride — and what it really means to be a young professional in Birmingham.

You can listen and subscribe to Future Faces: The Young Professionals Podcast now on the following listening platforms:

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