Hi, I’m Miles, and I’m here to introduce myself in the only way I know how, honestly, with a bit of humour, and probably with a few tangents along the way! My journey has taken me from Essex to Exeter, from politics to technology, and from chaotic family water fights to the world of AI and digital transformation.
At the heart of it all, I’ve always been fascinated by people, how they think, how they organise, and how technology has transformed the way we interact. So, here’s a bit about me, how I got here, and why I find the work we do at Yopla so exciting.
Growing Up: London, Essex, and a Feral Cat Problem
I grew up between London and Essex. My early years were spent in London, where my parents worked, my Dad in finance at Merrill Lynch and my Mum in software, developing trading platforms for banks. When I was about three, we moved out to Southminster, a small village an hour from London, where I spent most of my childhood.
I had what I’d describe as a classic countryside upbringing, plenty of space, family gatherings, and some questionable pet choices! Our first attempt at pets was two cats, which quickly decided that civilisation wasn’t for them. After making our shed their permanent home and developing some feral tendencies, we made the executive decision to try a dog, instead! Thankfully, our next pet, Milly, a cocker spaniel, was much more agreeable.
A Childhood of Water Fights and Cricket Matches
Some of my best memories involve chaotic family gatherings where my dad’s side of the family, five siblings, plus their kids, would all come together. Our garden would transform into a battlefield, with makeshift water parks, oversized cricket matches, and a general disregard for health and safety.
From History to Politics to Tech
I went to St Peter’s School, which I loved, particularly for the sports and the local golf clubs. Academically, I took English, History, Geography, and an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) where I dove headfirst into the Russian Revolution. It was all thanks to A People’s Tragedy by Orlando Figes, a 1,000-page deep dive into Russian history that my grandfather put in front of me, and I was hooked.
That fascination with history, people, and political systems led me to study Politics and Middle Eastern Studies at Exeter. I was especially drawn to Middle Eastern politics - how societies function, how power shifts, and how information is controlled. Looking back, I probably should have just focused on that rather than mixing in international relations, but at the time, I thought it would make me more employable.
It was at Exeter that I had my first proper job, working on the shop floor at Moss Bros. A world away from history and politics, but a solid lesson in understanding people - what they want, what they don’t say out loud, and how small interactions shape the bigger picture.
