Today, Maria talks with Will Jacobs, a friend and former colleague known for achieving first-class results while caring for his teams. Will is a hands-on senior executive and talented strategist who started his career as a machine operator. His professional journey makes him highly capable both in the boardroom, with corporate investors and on the shop floor. His ability to see complex links between seemingly unrelated matters is evident during our discussion as he reflects upon his learning journey in a vibrant way for the listener. He talks about his mentors who recognized his talents, saw his potential, and created opportunities for him along the way. He also shares the forks in the road with a rare openness and honesty, from his decision to drop out of University when he was 19 to the key changes he pursued in his career. Most importantly, Will talks about his love for people and his passion for identifying and cultivating their talents. Tun in to hear him share his rich learning journey with us in an impactful way!
Production team:
Host : Maria Xenidou
Producer: Julie-Roxane Krikorian
Introduction Voice: David Bourne
Contact us:
impactlearningpodcast@gmail.com
Music credits:
Like Lee performed by The Mini Vandals
Transition sounds: Swamp Walks performed by Jingle Punks
Where to find Will Jacobs and his new book:
Will's book: Rock, Paper, Scissors: the Instant Leadership Solution
Rock, Paper, Scissors: the Instant Leadership Solution — a short video about the book
The book on LinkedIn - Rock, Paper, Scissors: the instant Leadership Solution
Mentioned in this episode:
Listen to this episode and explore:
Will’s childhood: sailing, being on the water and natural curiosity (3:37)
The big fork in the road: dropping out of the university to start working after his father’s death (11:05)
From machine operator to supply chain manager (16:31)
The skill of detecting and cultivating human talent (19:00)
The importance of lateral thinking (22:19)
The impact of Will’s mentors on his career (26:00)
From operations and supply chain to an advising leadership role; lessons learnt the hard way (30:02)
Growing responsibilities: becoming a manager of 7 European plants (32:43)
Getting more responsibility after the acquisition (36:22)
Adapting to change: a crucial skill during times of change (40:18)
The ard lessons Will learnt while restructuring manufacturing sites after the acquisition (43:06)
A new role in e-commerce; focus on innovation in a fast-paced industry (47:16)
Leading the transformation of a traditional business in the future of manufacturing and supply chain (53:13)
The mark Will wants to leave on the world (55:26)