How to achieve continuing career success in this changing world?

The world we live in is changing ever so rapidly. We're increasingly told by futurists, scientists and doctors that there is a good chance most of us will achieve the status of centenarians. So, how do we ensure longevity in our career success?

You can watch or read my following graduation speech on career success at the University of Western Australia, where I was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Commerce for my contributions to international alumni relations, on 26 July 2019:

Good evening Chancellor, The Honourable Robert French, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education, Members of Senate, Members of the Executive, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s hard to describe what an honour this is, how extremely grateful I am, to have the University that I love to serve bestow upon me this honorary Doctorate.

As the eldest son of a Chinese family and the oldest in-law of an Italian family, I can’t begin to tell you what this important distinction means to my mob. Both of my families’ cultures might seem worlds apart but in reality the Chinese and Italians have many similarities.

Generally speaking, a passion for food, an acute primal fear of our mothers-in-law and they both understand the true value of tertiary education and the wonderful experiences it brings. 

Almost 27 years ago, I left Singapore and came to Australia to study at this great university.

Looking back, I almost abandoned my trip as my family unexpectedly encountered a major financial setback 4 weeks before me leaving for Perth.

Luckily for me, my mom was able to make my overseas university dream come true with her lifelong savings.

Like most of you who are overseas students, our families have made huge sacrifices so that we can succeed.

There’s little doubt that as fresh graduates your immediate focus over the next few months is to land your first job. 

But in this increasingly complex changing environment, how do you achieve sustainable career success over the next decade? 

If you can answer that question, chances are you’ll adapt and transform into the highly skilled professional and dynamic leader of the future.   

Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of the world’s leading firms on improving the individual experience of employees throughout their journey to achieve superior performance.

As Senior Solution Strategist of Employee Experience at Qualtrics, a global experience management cloud technology firm, I’ve gained invaluable insights into how people can achieve long-term career success.  

In short, I’m in the business of helping professionals like you achieve success at work by learning how to be agile, authentic, accomplished. 

Currently, there is so much talk about the future of work - Robots, AI, Singularity - how significant will they really be as “job-killers” in the next 5 years ? 

But instead of worrying about these “apocalyptic scenarios that endanger fear” here’s something to consider - 3 quick lessons I’ve gleaned over a couple of decades that will give you a head-start.

Now this is what I wish I was told when I was sitting right where you are tonight.

Go slow to be on the fast-track, go broad to be deep-rooted and go near to be far-reaching.

Number 1 go slow to be on the fast-track. In other words, step-back and allow yourself to FAIL in the early years of your career to achieve long term success.

Here’s something you may not want to hear. The career paths for most of us are pretty much determined by our first job after graduation.

So, don’t be in a rush to secure that first job offer that comes your way. Experiment, take risks, speak to industry insiders.

You can take all the psychometric assessments in the world to know yourself but you’ll never truly know what you could become until you’ve tried and failed.

The worst thing you could do for yourself early in your career is to stick with a job you don’t like, one that you think might eventually grow on you.

So, what are the things you can do to find yourself on your discovery journey in the next 12 months?

Well, reach out to your UWA alumni. I’ve seen first-hand how much our new graduates have truly benefited from the invaluable counsel, connections and coaching from our senior alumni. And join an international internship or volunteering program that provides you invaluable opportunities and experiences to work overseas.

Number 2 go broad to be deep-rooted. This is how it goes right? You got your first job and the firm places you in a functional area - finance, sales, marketing, human resources and others. 

And like most people, you will be trained by your firm over the years to be proficient in what you do.

Before you know it, you will be called a “specialist.” 

This early adoption of one single area of expertise by employees is no longer relevant in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment - the VUCA world.

This is because you’re increasingly expected by your firm to be agile and quickly become an “expert” in 1 or several other new areas.

Now, I can tell you from personal experience, it takes years of total dedication and commitment to your one chosen profession and be considered by your peers and clients as an expert.

This is why you will find yourself trapped by your expertise and eventually be disrupted, replaced and outsmarted by AI in the future.

My advice to you is to acquire neuroplasticity, at the start, to train your brain to adapt continuously.

You can achieve this by volunteering at work on cross-functional projects, new product development or new business ventures.

Then by continuously increasing your new neural connections, you will acquire the ability to learn from experience and then apply that learning to perform successfully in new areas of expertise.

Finally, go close to be far-reaching. One of my favourite Chinese proverbs is

近者悅, 遠者來.

In other words, “make those who are near happy, and those who are far will be attracted and come to you.”

Most successful leaders work very hard to build strong social networks and relationships to achieve long-term success.  

About 7 years ago, I was privileged to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of UWA Business School Singapore Ambassadorial Council and then also the inaugural role of President of UWA Alumni Network Singapore.

What these two roles have taught me is the value of networking.

I’ve seen several inspiring examples of how maintaining connections have created new and exciting pathways.

Believe me at the time, you just don’t see where the connections will take you.

You know I started in my new role at Qualtrics 3 months ago, after a 7-month career break. 

I had interviews with 5 companies that reached out to me through LinkedIn.

Without an inch of exaggeration, I went through about 50 job interviews with those five potential employers.

I eventually landed my current role at Qualtrics, which I later discovered I was recommended by someone internally whom I connected with 10 years ago.

You will find that as you progress through your career, it is those valuable solid connections that you’ve made through your journey that are going to give you those precious word-of-mouth recommendations to senior roles later on.

One thing’s for sure, as graduates of the University of Western Australia, you’ve been endowed by this great university with the intellectual foundation that will serve you well in your career.

And I trust my “future-proof career trifecta” will help you to navigate the sometimes rocky pathway ahead. Go slow to be on the fast-track, go broad to be deep-rooted and go close to be far-reaching.

Your journey ahead may not be entirely smooth. As the saying goes: “A ship in harbor is safe but this is not what ships are built for.”

The key to help you weather storms in the future is having the courage to experience the new, embrace new challenges and excite in new opportunities.

Have a wonderful celebration tonight.