into corporate. Why? how? And am I enjoying it. The why: needed a new leadership challenge, something to stretch me and also to fulfill my longer term plan to get onto boards of ASX business. You cannot get into those roles without having Corporate leadership experience. Many non execs have advised me I need to remain in senior exec roles in corporate for the next 10 years in order to get the experience to be considered for a ASX Board role.
To make the move to corporate, I had to understand the missing skills needed to be successful. As I knew no one who had moved into corporate from tech start-up, I enlisted the services of a Business coach Phil Crenigan. The preparation was essential as I had only been in Australia at that time 3 years and my network in corporate Australia was insufficient to be sponsored into a role. When someone brings you into an organisation you have someone to help you navigate, when you are not known you have to navigate and network from day one.
Des Miller who I had worked for over 20 years recommended the book ‘in the first 90 days’ by Michael Watkins. A great guide to moving into a senior leadership role in a corporation.
The challenge of moving into Corporate was a chance to make a difference. When you have set up a business, that nobody knows about and built three successful business you have to be good at everything; marketing, selling, implementation, finance and growing a team. Taking that entrepreneurial spirit and customer focus in to Telstra has proved to be one of the most rewarding times in my career. The leadership and support is incredible. The strategy is well understood by all and the focus on Customer advocacy is in the DNA of Telstra, thanks to David Thodey’s phenomenal leadership.
Are you ready to make the change?
Angela Lovegrove 