What do you do at MRG?
As a Business Director within MRG’s real estate team I partner with our investor/developer clients across the Residential & Living Sector to find solutions to their recruitment problems and deliver the subsequent search and recruitment campaigns.
I challenge myself to find the very best talent possible, in order to transform their organisations, assets and their projects.
What are you most proud about that you have achieved in your career to date?
My tendency is to be pretty hard on myself and find it difficult answering questions like this. My first thought as a recruiter go straight to the individuals and organisations I have helped. In truth, I’m proud of all of those things, but if I’m going to be completely honest, the thing I’m most proud of is something a little more personal to me.
I come from a very working-class, low-income family in an underprivileged area. While I have a long way to go to reach my goals, I have been able to build a career that has allowed me to travel, work, and live in Australia and London. I have also had the opportunity to partner with some of the UK’s most exciting real estate businesses on some of the country’s landmark projects, working with some of the most talented people in the sector.
Knowing I contributed to the growth of these businesses or the delivery of those projects in some small way is something I’m very proud of.
How did you get into recruitment, and why?
After a previous career in real estate, I woke up one morning in a panic that I had to go and see some of the world, fast forward a few months and I found myself working in one of Western Australia’s largest dairy farms (long story) spending my days covered in fly’s and cow excrement….. It was time for another change. My good friend ‘Mr Google’ kindly informed me that I may have some useful transferable skills for a career in ‘recruitment’. At this point, I knew about as much about recruitment as I did about milking cows, but after several interviews and a flight to Brisbane, I had found a new career.
What energises you about working in this sector?
You are largely responsible for your own success.
What’s the biggest thing that’s changed in recruitment since you started?
The following statement comes with a caveat, as this change is very much company-dependant, and I have been fortunate to work with some brilliant companies.
Since I started working in the industry, I have seen a dramatic change in how we position ourselves and service our clients. In today’s market, it’s no longer about quick wins and just about getting fees on the board. We now provide clients with solutions to key business issues in a consultative manner. In the early stages of my career, it was all about outputs and call statistics. Relationships and knowledge are now the keys to becoming a true specialist in your field.
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
My middle name is Mambo! (don’t ask). My dad initially wanted it to be my first name, but sense (my mother) prevailed. Although, the release of Lou Bega’s ‘Mambo Number 5’ did result in a rough couple of years at school.
What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Two pieces of advice have stayed with me. In spite of their simplicity, both require a surprising amount of maintenance.
- It is easy to identify problems, but make sure you come up with a solution as well.
- Do what you say you’re going to do.
What three words would your colleagues use to describe you?
Through gritted teeth… Creative, problem solver and a team player.
And finally, who would play you in the movie about your life?
EASY! without a doubt 100% it would be *The Rock
*If he had a little more hair, was a foot shorter, had little to no muscle mass, had a pale complexion, looked a little more like Danny De Vito and had a scouse accent.
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