Consultant Spotlight: Mark Wheatley

Q&A with Mark Wheatley

 

1. What’s your favourite way to answer the question ‘what do you do?’

I work with great people, both at Lane4 and with clients, to improve performance of individuals and businesses.

 

2. What is your approach to finding a work-life balance?

I often re-frame this as “how do I ensure that I love the work part of my life?”

 

3. Describe in three words what makes a good leader

Performance, Passion and Care

 

4. If you could remote-work from any country in the world, where would it be?

South Africa- wildlife, weather and wine

 

5. Which culture, philosophy, or way of life – that is different to yours – do you most admire?

Self sufficiency intrigues me as a way where the carbon footprint and overall impact on the earth is minimised, yet you can still lead a healthy happy life.

 

6. Who was your favourite teacher, role model or mentor when growing-up?

My Physics teacher who had a down to earth way of making the complex simple.

 

7. What, or who, was your biggest inspiration when choosing your career route?

Richard Branson, as someone who kept trying different ideas and approaches. He’s willing to learn from each and he believes in hard work.

 

8. Which area of your consulting work do you find the most interesting, and why?

Solving problems with others. I enjoy the creativity that can come from others and solving problems that one person on their own may not be able to resolve.

 

9. What are the top 3 personal skills that leaders need to possess, or develop, to lead their organisation into the future?

Dealing with ambiguity, taking decisions and resilience.

 

10. If you could go back in time and give your 16-year-old self advice, what would it be?

Have fun!

 

11. If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed three items, what would they be and why?

-A multi-purpose knife/ tool to give me a chance of making some things and cutting food and wood

-A lighter for starting fires

-Notepad for reflections and ideas

 

12. What’s the number one thing you want to accomplish during your time on Earth?

Leaving others in a better place than if we hadn’t met.