I'm your host Gary Nowak and I've got my first 3 way . . . . Conversation with 2 great friends from Australia Levi Waters and Pete Collins. This was one of my favorite podcasts to record and I just had the best time with these two "Blokes".

Career Background:
- Normally I walk you through individually, however with this one these guys are very similar in background:

• They grew up in Brisbane
• Both joined the Navy for the same reason
• Both left the Navy for the same reason
• Both Joined consulting for the same reason

Check out their linked in Profiles

Highlights
- How to choose between which brand of the military you'd like to join
- Middle of the bush or duty free shopping in Singapore
- Don't fight the why
- Military you are given directional intent with not as command and control as you would think
- The plan is the basis for change
- Course you are taking is a pencil line drawn in a chart and can be erased
- The path of least resistance
- Everything they do well in business was learned in the Navy
- What they look for in young people
- Perspective on really ambitious people
- Take the opportunity that is in front of you and trust the process
- The customer is always right, but the client can be wrong
- Don't be afraid to challenge, don't just be a "yes" person
- It takes a team to get things done
- Relationships perspective, don't be afraid to share personal information
- Learning what drives everyone

Want to be a guest? Email me at gpnowak@gmail.com!

Highlights

• Moving around 10 times prior to age of 20
• Saw the world early and often
• Paris at 7 am is Magic
• The freedom of being a consultant
• You can take a 10 euro taxi home, c'mon
• No clue on what to do with her career, that changed quickly
• Learning something is a great day
• Falling in love with Japan and learning yet another language
• Traveling to China & Russia with her financial reporting floppy disks
• Bringing value at an early age and being very eager
• Working in the Salt Mines
• Being told how to make more money while in South Korea
• Not knowing what consulting was all about and starting the with KPMG at the beginning of their MC practice
• Many many small pride moments
• And being a life long learner

Career Background:

• Successful partner with KPMG for over 21 years
• Group Controller for Salins
• Business Analyst for SEB (Overseas experience)

Welcome to another episode of "Wish I Knew . . . "

A podcast where I speak with people about their careers focusing on their success, advice, mentoring and listening to interesting stories.

I'm your host Gary Nowak and I know when a guest comes on and doesn't feel like they have anything to share that it will be "off the charts" great and my conversation with @anne-claude was absolutely not exception, her career story is outstanding

Want to be a guest? Email me at gpnowak@gmail.com!

I'm your host Gary Nowak and you are going to have to "buckle up" for this one as I bring you a colleague and good friend from down under, Mr. Mark Bladon. As only Mark can do, he brings a unique, authentic perspective throughout our conversation.

Background overview

• KPMG Partner in IT Advisory since 2010
• Partner with IBM for 6 years
• PWC Partner for 13 years
• University of Queensland for a Philosophy degree

Highlights:

• Lacking enthusiasm at the chicken shop
• Comparing himself to:
  
  • Joe Biden
  • Tom Brady
  • Hitler
• Coiled mass of angry resentment
• Still trying to figure out what he wants to do when you grows up
• Working for a large conglomerate in Queensland
• Career is a cork bobbing on water
• Getting pulled over to PWC and looking to hold his own
• Never having a strong senses of what the future can be
• Looking at your career is like a Roller Coaster - enjoy the ride
• The company will move on without you
• Consulting Perspective
  
  • Comparing consulting with a race car team
  • His overview of what true consulting is
  • Having deep and broad skills in consulting
  • The ideal consultant is a thumb tack
  • Using the word cloud to predict proposal success
  • Being open to changing perspective during an engagement
• Talking about the ozone concern
• Doing a theatrical presentation instead of a power point slide
• Mark has a problem with mentoring
• Role models
  
  • Are about watching people
• Always wanted to be a writer, mission accomplished
• What Mark looks for in hiring a candidate

Want to be a guest? Email me at gpnowak@gmail.com!