What I've Learned From Working Across Five Continents

I've worked in the North Sea, West Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and across Europe. In oil and gas, forestry, technology, education and consulting. With teams of 10 and teams of 350. With founders, MDs, CEOs and boards.

And one thing has been consistent across all of it. People are the same everywhere.

They want to know where they're going. They want to know they matter. They want to do good work and be recognised for it. They want to be led by someone they trust.

The context changes. The industry changes. The culture changes. But the fundamentals of what makes people perform — and what holds them back — are remarkably consistent.

I find that reassuring. Because it means that what I've learned in one place, I can apply in another. And the further I've travelled, the more I've come back to the same simple truth. Get the people right. Everything else follows.