“How do I pursue an acting and stunt career while juggling my businesses?” Adam Kiani, CEO and founder, Academy Investment Group

I was born and bred in Birmingham and our head quarter are based here. Everything I do is because I love doing it. I am passionate about all my businesses. I love training and going to the gym and that’s how I started as a gym manager and then as a personal trainer (PT). I recognised there was a different way of professionalising PTs by training people who were already doing the job to educate others. I did a feasibility study and started my own education company. Using this model I was able to accelerate growth very quickly – my approach has disrupted the industry and been adopted by others.

This business has allowed me to pursue other personal and professional prospects. I operate a community gym in Moseley, run a coffee and tea business in Birmingham and am an investor in a company manufacturing gym equipment. These are all things I care about and enjoy. I stay across these different enterprises because I understand the importance of structure, employing good people and forming strong teams. It’s in my nature to respond quickly and I make the most of being able to work on the move. If I have my phone and a laptop I can work anywhere. This flexible approach has given me the time to pursue a more unusual side-line as an actor and stuntman.

I first got interested in TV and film when I was involved in a mixed martial arts event which got picked up by Sky TV. This led to a presenting role on a fitness show which sparked a curiosity in the media. Around this time my son was getting involved drama and had been offered some TV roles. When I was researching drama schools for him, I found a course at Kingdom Drama School I liked the look of and signed myself up.

Acting has opened up a new creative world that I love. I have had the opportunity to take on some incredible roles, including in The Gentlemen, where I worked alongside Theo James, Kaya Scodelario and Guz Khan and Suspect, where I featured with James Nesbitt. My fitness and physicality have led me into stunt work which is great fun.  I am notching up some amazing credits including doubling Cliff Curtis in Meg 2 and Bobby Deol in Bollywood blockbuster Animal.

I’m an avid supporter of the IoD and was honoured to win IoD Director of the Year award for Innovation in 2018 and the Young Director of the Year award in 2021. I give a lot of credit for these awards to my teams. The networking and professional development opportunities offered by the IoD are unparalleled and 116 Pall Mall is an amazing venue. I like to meet people there from right across my network; from employees and investors to film directors and casting agents.

I equate my success to how much I can give back as an individual and help other people. I am proud to be the IoD West Midlands ambassador – I want to encourage young people from different backgrounds into business. Many of our PTs have overcome significant life hurdles and we have recognised that they can use their life experience to give back. They regularly mentor pupils at Joseph Chamberlain College in Birmingham to help them make better life decisions. Perhaps our greatest achievement to date would be funding the building of a hospital in Sudan, which I was inspired to do after visiting a refugee camp in 2018.

Looking ahead, for me it’s about work-life balance. How do I pursue an acting career while juggling my business interests? How do I keep giving back while driving my commercial enterprises forward? I know I’ll need the continuing support of my amazing team and the back up of the IoD to help me navigate the best way through.