Guy Marshall
Director, Fuza Ltd
1 What do you do for fun?
Run in the hills.
2 You have the power to change one thing about the social housing sector: what would it be?
The relationship between UK government and how the UK provides decent homes that people can afford. I see systemic disconnects between policy and practice, between customers and organisations, between governance and strategy. I don’t know exactly what ‘good’ would look like, but I don’t think we’re doing it well at the moment.
3 What advice would you give to someone starting on their AI journey?
Focus on the outcome you’re trying to achieve. AI, like a smartphone, can be an enabler or not. Clarity on the right problem to solve can help you find the right tool for the job – don’t just lurch towards AI.
4 Who’s your favourite author, and why?
George Orwell. I first read his work in my formative teenage years, and it shaped a lot of my worldview at the time. Tolkien is a close second, another fantastic world-builder.
5 What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever experienced?
This is a bit too difficult to explain, but in the pub I realised that not everyone can think in 10- or 11-dimensional spaces. That was the moment I realised my brain is wired differently than many other people’s. It’s a weird place to be, especially now that I’m more aware of it, and it often makes me think about how different individuals perceive the same objective reality.
6 What are your three favourite albums?
Boston Manor: Sundiver. They’re an up and coming band from Blackpool, check them out!
Rise Against: Appeal to Reason. Good ol’ pop-punk.
Oliver! (1994 London Palladium Cast Recording). My primary-school-age kids are so into musicals it’s unreal.
7 Proudest achievement?
Getting new rules for Manchester Statistical Society, the oldest surviving statistical society in the world where I’m a trustee. I’m proud of this because it took such long, sustained effort, and because of what that has unlocked in terms of faster charitable delivery.
8 A world without music or a world without literature – and why?
Music, I couldn’t cope without the escapism nor the knowledge transfer enabled by books.
9 Favourite place in the world?
I don’t want to tell you in case it gets too busy! But in the mountains.
10 You can resurrect anyone from history and talk to them for an hour: who, and why?
I think probably Isaac Newton. I’d love to see what he makes of modern mathematics.
11 Favourite film or TV series?
I guess The Matrix plays into the stereotype!
12 Favourite food?
Mapo tofu!
13 Most embarrassing moment?
This week? Messing up my diary so I wasn’t at home to celebrate my wife’s birthday.
114 If you could do any job in the world, what would you do?
It’s clichéd, but I absolutely love what I do and the people I work with. It was a lot of effort to construct a fulfilling portfolio career, especially one so varied, but totally worth it. We only have at best 4,000 weeks on earth, we should already be spending it doing what we love.
15 What makes for a good life?
I’m a believer in science, so I guess autonomy, mastery, purpose and social connectedness. Would you like me to explore how to apply some of these principles to a specific area of your life, like career or daily habits? Just kidding, I didn’t use Gen AI for any of this except that last sentence.
