Prepare for Opportunities You Can’t Yet See — Mark Willes

What if reaching your greatest potential has less to do with planning the perfect career—and more to do with becoming exceptional at whatever is in front of you right now? My guest today is Mark Willes, whose remarkable career took him from earning a Ph.D. in economics and finance at Columbia University, to teaching finance, to leadership at the Federal Reserve, to becoming CFO and a senior executive at General Mills, and ultimately to leading major organizations including Times Mirror and Deseret Management Corporation. But what makes Mark’s story especially interesting is that he says he never planned that career. Instead, he focused on being the very best he could be in each assignment he was given, continually learning, developing a broader understanding of business, and treating the people around him as mentors. In our conversation, we talk about how to differentiate yourself early in your career, why focusing too much on your next job can actually hold you back, how great leaders develop strategy, how to successfully move between completely different industries, and why Mark believes you can learn something from almost everyone you work with. If you’ve ever wondered how you prepare yourself for opportunities you can’t yet see, there is a lot of wisdom in this conversation. This is my conversation with Mark Willes on the Discover Possible Podcast.