I was introduced to Mr. Lee Barnett through my uncle, as they used to work together in American Express. Mr. Barnett held a very senior position in Amex and I am excited to get to know him more in the coming days and weeks!

Mr. Barnett and I talked about his love for sports, especially cricket. Growing up in England, cricket is one of the most popular sports to watch and play. He also enjoyed tennis, and his son loves to play soccer and golf!

Mr. Barnett has had three major relationships and is now happily with Karen. His first flight was at age 9, and though international travel wasn’t common in his youth, those early experiences sparked a sense of curiosity. His brother, in contrast, pursued a very different creative path—working in opera house stage design, excelling in art and music, and even winning an international art competition at 13. Married to a ballerina, his brother’s life reflects a rich artistic flair, while Barnett himself charted a more grounded path, securing his first apartment at 22 and steadily building a life of his own.

Mr. Barnett began working the day after his 17th birthday and joined American Express at 19. Though he didn’t have a degree, he entered through Amex’s Technology Intern program, which valued personality and experience alongside education. He started in customer support and programming—though he quickly realized he didn’t enjoy coding—and steadily moved up five or six levels to become one of the youngest directors in the country by age 25. Over his 47-year career with Amex, he thrived on tackling new, cutting-edge challenges and wasn’t afraid to take risks at the “scary edge” of innovation.

His career also took him to America, where he led student recruitment at universities like Cornell and the University of Arizona. While many candidates looked similar on paper with strong GPAs, he sought out those with something extra—volunteering, nonprofit work, or real-life experience that showed resilience and a broader perspective. Though he held senior positions, he often emphasized that true value comes not just from degrees, but from lived experience. Now, for the first time, he finds himself outside the workforce, noticing the stigma of not having a degree despite decades of proven leadership. Still, he carries pride in a career defined by hard work, risk-taking, and a deep belief in the power of experience over credentials.