A group of Australian CEO's are going to see what life is like on the other side of the fence when they leave their green pastures for a night, and take part in the CEO Sleep out on the streets of Australian capital cities.
The CEO Sleep out is an event that aims to raise funds and awareness for homelessness accross Australia by having business leaders sleep on the streets and experience what it is to be homeless in winter.
For one CEO, sleeping on the streets will be something of a homecoming. After leaving an abusive and then hostile home at 14, Gary Poole spent a part of his life on the streets of Melbourne. His earliest memories are of his father being abusive, so along with his mother, he left for a life of uncertainty.
His mother found true love, but Poole didn't fit into that happily ever after scenario.
"I was the baggage," Poole said, "so I made a very difficult decision then to leave home."
As a 14 year old boy, he slept on the streets with other grown men which was daunting, but he eventually found his way.
"It was scary, but as painful as it was; it wasn't as painful as it was to be at home." Poole told ABC News.
"The first couple of nights it was the local park, in the toilets, and then I learnt the train stations were a good place to get comfortable."
Being immersed in life on the streets made Poole more certain he had to get out, he spent his complete life savings of $327 on a computer course, and was motivated during his studies by the chance to give himself a better life.
"I studied night and day until I got the highest score that anyone ever got in that course - out of pure desperation."
After a few years, and a few jobs in the computer industry, Poole found himself in a unique entrepreneurial position in the serviced apartment trade, which led to his quick rise to CEO.
Now Poole is the owner operator of a luxury bed and breakfast in the Gold Coast Hinterland, but on June 20, he'll join other business owners to see how brown the grass is on the other side of the fence.
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