Finding the Magic

Mark Lee, a chartered accountant and long-time member of the Magic Circle, reflects on how he spent years hiding his love of magic from clients because he feared it would undermine his professional credibility. Through stories of awkward moments and perceived stigma, he explores how small signals about who we are can shape trust, bias, and whether we feel safe to be fully seen at work.

As Mark moved from accountancy practice into a career focused on speaking, writing, and mentoring, he became more open about his passion and began using magic as a tool to help audiences remember ideas and connect with him as a person. The conversation expands into inclusion more broadly, including gender and representation in magic and accountancy, the impact of stereotypes, and how visibility can filter out prejudice.

Joanne and Mark also discuss identity and discrimination more directly, including Mark’s experience of being Jewish and Joanne’s experience of being transgender. Together they reflect on racism, bias, allyship, and the value of meeting people outside our usual circles to challenge assumptions and create more inclusive environments.