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How Diverse Career Experiences Make You a Stronger Leader

When we build a career we have choices.

One choice is to dig deep into a specific areas of expertise and become a total domain expert…

… and another is to have a broader reach with varied experiences.

Is one better than the other?

I would always encourage my clients to seek out as many experiences as they can. Why?
Because the more you experience, the more of an asset you become to your current (and future) employer. Which could help you climb the ladder faster, land more inspiring roles and command a bigger salary too.
But what if you could actually do both: be both a domain expert and have a broad range of experiences?
I interviewed the fabulous Meg Thomson today on my podcast, Her Ambitious Career. She is a leader who indeed, has accomplished both.
She is sharing her diverse journey of learning across sectors having led projects at Apple, Samsung, BCG Digital Ventures, Coles Supermarkets, Polestar Electric Cars, and OVO Energy.

Here’s a video snippet from the interview:

In this podcast ep, Meg and I are talking about:

  • Going after a broad career – the floodlight (multiple sectors) versus the torchlight approach (subject matter expert in one sector)
  • Learning across sectors
  • Thriving when pushed beyond your comfort zone
  • The power of a clear vision to galvanise teams, particularly during crises
  • Meg’s Career Toolbelt analogy : how to expand your ‘toolbelt’ and look for new experiences and opportunities to broaden your skills and experiences throughout your career

 

Something awesome Meg said:

If I am not uncomfortable, I am not growing and I am not learning. I have chosen to become a a strategic operations and customer experience expert globally, but I am always learning a new sector, whether its management consulting, tech with Apple, electric cars or FMCG. The investment I have to put in early-on in a role is to learn the sector, as well as the pain points of the customer. I will ask lots of questions, be humble and acknowledge that I don’t know everything and lean on others’ expertise; it’s a steep learning curve!”

 

Full podcast ep!

Tune into the entire 26 minute podcast interview with Meg, Diversity of Experience: Leading Across Sectors & Continents right here:

 

Career Tip:

Consider whether you could be broadening your own experience!

Rebecca x

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