Gemma Godfrey has quite the CV. From starting out as a quantum physicist – “I’m still a geek at heart,” Godfrey assures me – to founding online investment service Moola, her knack for problem solving and eye for business have meant success in almost all of her endeavours. And, last year, Hollywood came calling.
Not for a role in a feature – we might add – but rather to be an adviser to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new host on the US version of The Apprentice. Think Nick Hewer – but more glamorous.
But this appointment is only the latest in a succession of achievements and accolades – the most notable of which being Godfrey’s inclusion on a list of ‘the most powerful women in London’ last summer.
“That’s something I’m really proud of,” Godfrey tells me, “as London is such a fantastic melting pot of inspirational people. I think inspiration, influence and impact are three driving forces behind how powerful someone is. And – ultimately – it’s all about making a tangible difference. Action, not just words.”
After leaving the theoretical world of physics behind, Godfrey took action in 2015 when she founded Moola, a service that offers people the comfort to get started in investment.
“We saw a massive gap in the market,” says the finance expert, “another problem that needed solving. Finance has been shrouded in jargon and complexity, so there was a clear need for a service that was simple to understand and easy to use.
“And that’s where Moola came in. It gives users the knowledge to make smarter decisions and also gives them peace of mind. Moreover, it helps financial advisers look after smaller customers and employers look after the financial wellbeing of their staff.”
But, although Godfrey’s own business is going from strength to strength, the big news is her new role on The New Celebrity Apprentice, a reboot of Donald Trump’s original show starring ex-Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger – who has traded political places with Trump.
The @VictoriaLIVE set, discussing if @realDonaldTrump will be good for U.K. Businesses #FinTech @moolateam @BBCJoannaG pic.twitter.com/okNA2cC3KC
— Gemma Godfrey (@GCGodfrey) January 20, 2017
“I was known on American business TV for commenting on financial markets,” Godfrey explains, “and, by the time they were casting for the show and looking for people who could offer real-life business advice, I’d started my own company.
“Of course, as a prime time TV show, it needed to resonate with the public generally, and I’ve been a regular presence on shows such as ITV’s Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast and Sky News – so it proved a great fit! The most surreal part of the experience was working with such well-known personalities.”
One personality who we can’t avoid talking about is Trump, The Apprentice’s old host, uber-businessman, and – if you hadn’t noticed – the new President of the United States.
Back in the boardroom #CelebApprentice pic.twitter.com/EphNyduSvd
— Gemma Godfrey (@GCGodfrey) January 17, 2017
“As with Brexit over here,” Godfrey comments on Trump’s victory, “the rise of someone outside of politics showed how disenfranchised and “left behind” so many people feel.
“It’s also a lesson in the power of ‘reality TV’ and social media – people listen to people they relate to, or they think understands them, or feel they know by being let in to so much of what’s going on in their lives. It’s also a lesson in how effective you can be if you keep your message simple.”
So how does Godfrey, as a finance expert, see ‘Trump’s reign’ affecting the global economy?
“On the one hand, financial markets have welcomed his focus on business and transactional nature to “get a deal done”. At the same time, any friction between the US and another country concerns investors that this could hit trade and global growth.
“While we’ve been told we’ve been welcomed “to the front of the line” in terms of negotiating new trade deals with the US, Trump has also made it clear that he puts American interests first – and this will be the great tension – between getting the best deal and getting the deal done.
“Also, let’s not forget that we’ve now entered an age where the economic outlook can be impacted by social media – where with a single tweet from the president, a company can be hit with millions of dollars wiped off its value. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
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