Wish I Knew . . .

#65 Mark Bladon (Re-Release) - Career is like a Roller Coaster / His Consulting Perspective / Big 4 Partner / Who Mark hires

• Gary Nowak • Season 2 • Episode 65

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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!