Nick Jenkins read Russian Language and Literature at Birmingham University, graduating in 1990 before spending eight years living and working in Moscow. After returning to the UK he founded Moonpig.com, the online greeting card retailer, before selling the business in 2011. He now invests in early stage technology businesses mostly in the educational technology sector. Nick is on the board of Mwabu, a tablet based primary education system, which operates in a number of countries across Africa. He is also a former Dragon on BBC2’s Dragons Den.
You studied Russian literature at University – can you tell us a bit about why you chose to study this language?
It was more exotic than French but much easier to reach fluency than Chinese or Arabic. It was also spoken by over 200 million people.
How did you then use Russian once your University studies were complete?
I moved to Moscow in 1990 and spent a year working for a German company selling industrial equipment, and then spent another seven years as a commodity trader. At the time, very few Russians spoke English, so although my Russian was far from perfect it was the only language we could communicate in.
What impact did the experience of living and working abroad in Russia have on your life?
I was very lucky to experience the collapse of the Soviet Union and the development of the new Russia. It was a significant moment in history and I had a front row seat. As a Russian speaker I was given responsibilities far beyond the level I could have reached back in London. It was considered easier to teach a Russian speaker how to trade commodities than it was to teach a commodity trader how to speak Russian.
As a Russian speaker I got a much better view of life from the perspective of a normal Russian. I spent my evenings with Russian friends joining in with their conversations.
How has speaking another language influenced your business career?
Speaking the language of the country I was working in gave me the opportunities to develop relationships that would not have been possible through an interpreter and even if my clients had spoken good English. Without doubt I did a better job because I spoke Russian.
Can you tell us about a specific time in your personal life where languages have played an important role?
If I hadn’t been able to make friends and have a Russian social life in Moscow I don’t think I would have stayed longer than three years. Moscow had become home.
Generally in business, how important a role do you feel languages play?
A language is only useful as a business tool if it is spoken fluently. It gives the user an edge and a wider understanding of the situation. As an English speaker it is rarely essential for concluding a deal, but it can be very useful in developing the relationships that lead to the deal. Even a smattering of a local language can break the ice.
Do you agree with the notion that English is the language of global business?
Yes. I have worked for a German company and a Swiss company where the company language was English. It enables them to hire internationally and maintain clear communications within the company. I remember having a meeting in Frankfurt when I had just left university. There were a dozen German colleagues in the meeting and it was conducted entirely in English. When I was living in Moscow I worked with people of ten different nationalities. Emails needed to be in a language that could be read by everyone in the office and in the head office in Switzerland. I can’t understand anyone who works in a foreign country and doesn’t try to learn the local language but at the same time it would be ridiculous to pretend that that English hasn’t become the lingua franca of business.
Is there another language you would like to learn? If so, why?
I read French but I would like to actively speak it better. I travel to France and French-speaking Switzerland quite frequently and I would like to speak more fluently to join in with French conversations.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to learn a new language?
Watch the news in the language you are learning. Newsreaders are always the clearest speakers of all, and there are pictures in the background to give you a clue about what is going on. It is a great way to develop your ear for a language or to keep it current. Even if you don’t have satellite TV you can find clips on the internet.
Get different perspectives on language learning from some of our other celebrity interviews.