Leadership roundtable: From engineering graduates to business leaders

Nottingham Business School Business Leaders

Nottingham Business School Business Leaders' Podcast

Roundtable: From engineering graduates to business leaders. Reflections on leadership | Episode 34

Key takeaways

• Building your business network is important, even while still at uni. Colin says: “Networks are a bit like pensions – it’s never too early to start.”
• What is the most important skill for business leadership? Chris says: “How to make money! If you don’t make a bit of money, you’re not going to be in business long.”
• Emotional intelligence is important for leaders. Neil says: "You want people to come to the business and stay in the business. If you haven’t got those [EQ] skills, people will leave.”
• There is a value in doing business face to face. Colin says: “Remote working is exactly that… remote!
• Progressing your leadership career is often about knowing what is required. Neil says: "Always try to do your boss's job [for them]. They are never going to say no!"

NTU engineering graduates - their leadership careers

• Chris Evans is Managing Director of the Civil Engineering Division at VolkerFitzpatrick. He previously had leadership roles at Balfour Beatty and John Laing Construction.
• Neil Gibson is a Project Technical Lead Engineer for Laing O'Rourke. He has had leadership positions with John Laing International and Laing Civil Engineering
• Colin Collier is head of mergers and acquisitions at a private equity-backed accountancy practice. He previously had senior leadership roles at PwC and, before that, set up and ran his own IT business.

Related links

If you liked this episode, listen to David Lloyd – Leadership Lessons from 40 years in Independent Radio

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