Updating my personal website during a global pandemic

Hi all

Just an update on what I’ve been working on during COVID-19.

There have been some major changes that have impacted us all. From a work perspective for me – a lot less airport time and many more online meetings.

Overall, the pandemic has provided some additional contemplation time, outside of family and work commitments. The pandemic and the ensuing societal changes gave me the inspiration to revisit my personal website AndrewSMcNeil.com and reflect on what I’d like to do with the site and my corporate governance work for the post-COVID world.

Firstly, there is additional content on the site which I’ve made more personal. I’ve been a corporate guy my entire life so putting more personal touches on the website has been a challenge for me. I was very encouraged to be more personal from attending a Finsia webinar hosted by Julia Palmer of Relatus, regarding Positive Networks and Authentic Leadership. Julia’s guidance has helped me reach the point of opening up more about my background – both sports, (particularly rowing) and corporate life.

Secondly, I am going to focus more on Corporate Governance on this website. I’ve been afforded great opportunities over my career to work in Corporate Governance roles, particularly around Australian Financial Services Licensees and I’d like to share some of the experience I have gained from these governance roles.

This exercise of updating my website has also made me realise that one of my key career drivers is to help others. I am seeking to make this updated website an opportunity for me to connect with people that may need assistance with their corporate governance frameworks and execution of business planning in response to the post-lockdown world. From experience, I believe change creates opportunity. I hope to create opportunities for those I connect with on this updated website and associated forums.

Finally, I’d like to combine these two themes – authentic personal stories and corporate governance experience to comment on leadership. I understand that leadership means different things to different people. I am going to attempt to draw on my experiences from international sport and corporate experience to explore leadership in greater detail. It feels like a good time to explore corporate leadership in a post-COIVD-19 world.

I’d like to give special thanks to the design team at Frank Lane and in particular Adam Ruggero for his coaching over this website development project. Adam – you have been incredibly patient and generous with your time – thank you!

Thanks also for those reading this first post and I look forward to connecting with you over the journey. Feel free to follow me on LinkedIn and Twitter.  

All the best to you and yours.

Cheers

Andrew