Current role: Head of Foundation
Current organisation: Atlassian
Last role at PwC: Partner
Time at PwC: 1983 - 2016
What’s the one career achievement you’re most proud of?
The achievements I’m most proud of span both PwC and Atlassian.
At PwC, I’m most proud of:
- “Project Promise”, a “skunk works” initiative that resulted in societal relevance becoming a key part of the firm’s business strategy when Luke Sayers became CEO. Having societal relevance formally in the firm’s business strategy was a key enabler in getting PwC's Indigenous Consulting started;
- Setting up the Corporate Finance business in Thailand; and
- Playing a part in the development of team members who are now PwC Partners.
At Atlassian, I’m proud of everything achieved through the Atlassian Foundation.
What’s been your biggest career challenge and how have you overcome it?
It sounds crazy in hindsight, however my biggest single career challenge was finding the courage to apply for the role as PwC’s Corporate Responsibility Partner. I feared how others would view me. I had to overcome my ego and misplaced sense of self. Until then, I defined who I was as a person through my role as a successful, client facing PwC Partner. It took a few months of serious self-introspection, asking myself questions such as “who am I as a person?” and “what is important to me?”, for me to overcome my fears.
Luckily, I came out the other side with a clear and healthy sense of self, and a deep passion for the corporate responsibility role that served me very well in the interview process. The 12 years of my life since then have been so much better than they would have been had I not overcome my fears.
What’s the most valuable lesson you learnt during your career at PwC and how has that helped you get to where you are today?
I have learned so many! Perhaps the lesson I reflect on most often is that, as a leader, to create an environment in which your team is willing to really push themselves beyond their comfort zone (and hence achieve great things), you have to make it clear that mistakes are expected, provide a safety net for when team members fail, and be willing to accept responsibility for the failures yourself (as you created the conditions in which your team members stretched themselves).
I owe this learning to Allan Watson. I reported to Allan when, in mid-1997, I was a young Partner based in Bangkok, building the new Corporate Finance business. I made a serious stuff-up, costing the firm a few hundred thousand dollars. Allan supported me when I felt most vulnerable. If not for his support, I’m not sure what my future might have been. I know I would have been much less willing to stretch myself beyond my own comfort zone. Much of what the teams I’ve subsequently led have achieved is due to Allan’s support and my learnings from that experience.
What was your dream job ‘growing up’ and why?
As a kid, I dreamt of developing and running an extravagant “Marine Land” type of amusement park on the Gold Coast. I guess what I was envisioning was a forerunner to what Sea World is now. I’ve always loved blue sky thinking and “the art of the possible”, so I guess that’s why.
If you could have an hour lunch with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be and why?
I’d love to have lunch with Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. I don’t know whether Satoshi is one or multiple people, however I believe Satoshi’s creation will have a hugely positive impact on both humanity and the environment. I am on record as saying I believe Bitcoin will have a more positive impact on the world than all philanthropy combined.
How are you and your business making a difference for your customers, employees and society?
At the Atlassian Foundation, we view ourselves as passionate, committed supporters of impact-driven teams who are making the world a better place, through both the power of education and the power of business. There’s not enough space to name them all, however I’d love to mention two of the partners we support – Humanitix and Forte.
They’re both organisations created by young, inspiring Aussies demonstrating “the art of the possible”. Check them out, be inspired and do all you can to support them!
What's the one skill you look for when hiring Foundation recruits?
There’s no one skill that’s needed. What we look for might best be described as the complete package. What’s not negotiable is a track record of behaviour that is aligned with Atlassian’s values. I have to state the values here because they’re so earthy and important – Open company, no bullshit; Don’t #@!% the Customer; Play, as a team; Be the change you seek; and Build with heart & balance. We apply a guiding principle – unless the potential new team member is a “hell yeah” candidate, then we need to keep looking.
Are there any projects currently in the works at Atlassian that you’d like to share with the Alumni Network?
If you’re a founder, CEO or very senior leader of a business, then consider becoming part of the Pledge 1% movement. Pledge 1% is a movement co-founded by Atlassian that encourages all business founders to pledge to use some combination of 1% of equity, profit, employee time and/or product, for good.
You’ll not only make the world a better place, but your business will also benefit.
There are over 15,000 Pledge 1% members across 100+ countries. We’d love you to be part of the movement!
