Leader Scout

Sam Blank shares his impressive career journey in product design, starting from studying industrial design to working at a multinational organisation that designs and manufactures toys for McDonald's. He emphasises the importance of taking advantage of placement years and being persistent in securing opportunities. Sam also discusses the challenges and rewards of transitioning from a creative role to a leadership role, including the need for empathy, effective communication, and recognising one's unique value as a leader.

Matthew Mackey shares his journey from being a project surveyor in the UK to his current role in Australia. He started as a graduate at Garner and Theobald in London, where he gained a lot of responsibility early on. He then moved to Manchester and climbed the ranks to become an executive quantity surveyor. Matthew emphasises the importance of owning up to mistakes and learning from them. He also discusses the differences between the QS role in the UK and Australia. After working at multiple companies in Australia, he returned to Turner and Townsend for a pay rise and promotion. Matthew Mackey shares his career journey as a quantity surveyor and offers advice for QS professionals relocating to a new country. He emphasises the importance of networking and building relationships in the industry, as well as taking the time to understand the market and processes. Matthew also highlights the need to be proactive and seize opportunities to drive your career forward. He suggests starting slow, but being open to new experiences and challenges. Overall, Matthew's story showcases the potential for growth and success in the QS field.

George Vatis shares his career journey, starting as a Fitter and Turner and transitioning into the family tool-making business. He then pursued his passion for photography and worked as a wedding photographer while still in the factory. George later owned and operated video stores, leveraging his people skills and focusing on customer satisfaction. As the video rental industry declined due to piracy and competition from streaming services, George pivoted again and explored a career in real estate. However, personal circumstances led him to join a distribution business, where he applied his sales expertise and learned about internet security. George Vatis shares his career journey and offers advice for those interested in cybersecurity. He emphasizes the importance of networking, continuous learning, and bringing value to conversations. George also highlights the role of mentors in his success and encourages being open to learning from others. He concludes by discussing the significance of gratitude and not judging others' stories and definitions of success.

In this week's episode, the podcast host had the pleasure of sitting down with Shane Wallace, a business owner whose journey from postman to app owner is truly inspiring. Shane shared insightful details on how he turned his passion into a thriving business venture.

One particularly noteworthy highlight was Shane's revelation of how he generated around $100,000 simply by engaging in conversations at the local pub! This showcases Shane's remarkable charisma and knack for building connections, underscoring the importance of seizing unexpected opportunities on the path to success.

Listeners are highly encouraged to tune in to this episode, as it's packed with valuable lessons and motivational anecdotes that are sure to leave a lasting impact. Don't miss out on this opportunity for inspiration!

Nick Evans started his career at Qantas in the financial management trainee program, where he gained exposure to different parts of the business. He then moved into finance business partner roles and eventually transitioned into a product role. One of his notable achievements was launching the BidNow Upgrade product, which generated significant revenue for the organization. Nick also shared his experience stepping into a leadership role and emphasized the importance of trust, empathy, and self-reflection in leadership. He discussed the value of having an accountability partner and prioritizing personal fitness. Nick Evans shares his post-COVID journey, which involved leaving his corporate job and taking eight months off to explore various opportunities. During this time, he said yes to every opportunity that came his way, including becoming an angel investor and joining a consulting company. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and surrounding oneself with the best in order to grow professionally. Nick also discusses the challenges he faced in his roles at Standards Australia and the importance of leadership understanding and buy-in for successful product development. He concludes by highlighting the value of being flexible and prioritizing personal and professional growth.

Kylie Harris shares her career journey in HR, starting from her early challenges in finding HR roles to transitioning from temporary to permanent positions. She emphasizes the importance of adding value to a business and maintaining integrity in the workplace. Kylie also discusses the benefits of job sharing and work-life balance, as well as the challenges of managing stress and burnout. She highlights the significance of setting priorities and boundaries, and the importance of building trust when managing people. In this conversation, Kylie Harris discusses her experiences in HR and leadership. She emphasizes the importance of building trust and leading by example. Kylie also shares the impact of role models in her career and highlights the qualities that make a great leader. She further discusses the challenges of balancing parenthood and a career, as well as the need to adapt to changes and make compromises.

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In this conversation, Sushil Patel, the Managing Director and Founder of Hiring Solutions, shares his journey in the recruitment industry and the challenges he faced along the way. He discusses the transition from being an employee to starting his own business and the importance of motivation and finding the right fit in recruitment. The conversation also explores the effectiveness of KPIs in recruitment and the need for personalized approaches. Sushil emphasizes the significance of investing in people and predicting workload when hiring, as well as the impact of training and leadership in shaping a successful career in recruitment. In this conversation, Sushil discusses his journey as a manager and his decision to start his own business. He reflects on the challenges he faced in adjusting his management style and taking on more responsibilities. Sushil shares his thoughts on the process of starting a business and the factors that influenced his decision. He also explores the concept of comfort and how it has evolved throughout his career. Ultimately, Sushil emphasizes the importance of being present and prioritizing family in his current phase of life.

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Steve shares his career journey from being an electrician to taking on leadership roles in the construction industry. He discusses the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. Steve emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the impact it had on his development as a project manager. He also highlights the need for leaders to understand and adapt to the individuality of their team members. Steve shares his insights on transitioning from a technical role to a leadership role and the importance of building trust and supporting the success of his staff. He concludes by discussing the qualities of a good leader, including empathy. In this conversation, Steve discusses the importance of progression and sacrifice in one's career. He emphasizes the need to strive for excellence and have a strong work ethic. Caring about one's work and the business is crucial for personal and professional excellence. Steve also highlights the care factor in leadership and the importance of creating relationships and a positive company culture. He shares his experiences in inspiring and supporting career growth and the role of sacrifice in career progression. Finally, Steve discusses the importance of structure and time management in achieving goals.

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