The traffic-filled interview that changed a career
When Josh Bayliss arrived at Richard Branson's London mansion in 2005, he expected a routine interview for the role of general counsel at Virgin. Branson, however, realised he had another appointment across town and was already running late. Rather than cancel, he invited Bayliss to join him in the car.
The journey, which Bayliss later described as a "45-minute drive", stretched into a two-and-a-half hour ordeal as the pair became stuck in traffic. Bayliss used the unexpected delay to probe Branson's thinking.
"We got stuck in traffic, and that was great for me. I got a chance to really interrogate Richard and find out a lot more about what made him tick," Bayliss said.
The interview concluded with Bayliss securing the general counsel position, a stepping stone that would see him rise to chief executive of the Virgin Group by 2011.
From lawyer to chief executive
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Bayliss originally dreamed of becoming a scientist, inspired by comic-book heroes. After studying history and Spanish literature at the University of Auckland, he turned to law, working as a judge's clerk in New Zealand before moving to Barcelona and then London.
His legal background gave him insight into high-stakes decision-making, but Bayliss soon craved a more direct role in shaping outcomes. The interview with Branson offered that opportunity, allowing him to blend legal expertise with leadership ambition.
Why the story matters for Virgin and beyond
The episode illustrates the entrepreneurial culture that Branson has cultivated at Virgin: curiosity, willingness to experiment and a personal touch in recruitment. Bayliss attributes his own curiosity and appetite for learning to the same energy he observed in Branson.
"There is an energy to Richard and an appetite to learn about what he doesn't already know, to try what he hasn't already tried," Bayliss said.
Today Bayliss also chairs Virgin Atlantic, overseeing airlines, telecommunications, a gym chain and a commercial space-tourism venture. His leadership style reflects the same openness that characterised his first interview.
What lies ahead for Virgin
Bayliss says the next generation of employees, particularly Gen Z interns, impress him with their moral conviction and willingness to adopt AI as an "enablement tool" rather than a replacement. He believes that combining technology with human curiosity will allow young talent to progress rapidly, a principle that could shape Virgin's future growth.
As Virgin continues to expand into new sectors, the company's emphasis on curiosity-driven leadership, first demonstrated in a traffic jam, remains a guiding principle for its next chapter.