What prompted you to seek work outside New Zealand?
Challenge.
Can you provide brief sketch of your current role?
There are two parts. First, I lead global (120 country) team that serves Fortune 10 MNC, striving to add value for them in each project that we do. Second, I’m technical international tax resource for other teams. So I spend my days analysing and creating innovative solutions to tax issues (or “drawing on the white board” as my wife describes it).
How does it fit into your career path?
Every time I get asked that question, I feel like I should have one. I fell into the somewhat arcane world of international tax by accident. If there is “design” to my career, then this is the stage where I’m building and leading truly global teams and learning how hard (and fulfilling it is) to execute on vision.
What are its main challenges?
Keeping up. We work in an environment where only Friday afternoons are somewhat peaceful as Asia’s shut, Europe’s gone home and only the West Coast is still charging hard. The other seven days, someone is always awake and needing something. Combine that global demand with constantly evolving tax regimes and the challenge is in managing the flow of data, understanding what is informative and trying to turn that understanding into applied knowledge.
What are three learnings you will take from it?
Probably three things – the first two of which relate to attributes that normally are associated with New Zealand.
You can’t teach common sense; so when you find it you have to grab that resource. Upfront and frank discussions are always best.
Ask yourself how have you impacted the people that you are dealing with. If you can’t answer that question positively, then you need to rethink what you are doing.
How do you now view New Zealand both as country and economic/business environment?
New Zealand is home – though I increasingly find that I swap the “Z” for “Y”. Bluntly, I find the New Zealand business environment to be more tactically than strategically focused. “Long term” visions tend to be 12 to 18 month timeframes. The change in the talent drain (more expats overseas for longer time periods) should be concern, and I wonder if New Zealand is truly creating an environment where entrepreneurship and creativity can thrive. Compared to places like Ireland or Israel (who tap their diaspora amazingly) we don’t seem to be quite there in providing foundation for entreprenuership and “returnees” and so run the risk of becoming more and more “branch” economy.
It’s all very well to say “she’ll be right” and harp on about the things that can be done with piece of No 8 wire, but today we need to actively support science (and the arts) in ways that support creative and innovative endeavours. And that support is not just financial – it involves cultural change as well. My best example is that here (in the US), when you tell people that you are setting up new venture, the first thing they say is “that’s great”, “how can I help”, or “you should meet X”. I’m not sure that we have the same response in Aotearoa.
What sort of ongoing contribution/involvement do you or would you like to make to New Zealand’s economic future?
I’m an advisor to variety of New Zealand companies that are venturing or established offshore. I hope that the small pieces of assistance I provide help them and energise others in the expat community to continue to look for ways to contribute to growth.
