1. What have you found most challenging as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise?

The most challenging function I experience as a business owner is managing a complex schedule with the most efficiency and quality as possible. I tend to tweak my calendar almost every month to ensure I am maximizing my time and ensuring a healthy work-life balance.

2. How did you become a CEO or executive of a large enterprise? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I started out as a staffing recruiter back in 2004. I had success for a few years doing that prior to entering into HR recruiting, working for some Fortune 500 companies, such as PNC and Goodrich. I had the fortunate event of being hired by Johnson Controls and tenured there for a few years before the 2008 financial crisis caused a downsizing, in which I was impacted by. I decided to pick myself up from the bootstraps and open my own firm, MJW Careers. I transitioned from recruiting and resume writing into a full-time career consultancy business and have never looked back.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Sticking to my schedule like white on rice. If it goes into my calendar, it will get done on the day I have it marked. I do not skip steps or cut corners. It's important for not only me, but my clients that I maintain a tireless work ethic.

Typical day:

7:00 AM - Hang out with my 2-year old.

9:30 AM - Emails and lead generating activities.

11:00 AM - Breakfast/play with my son/put him down for his nap.

1:00 PM - Client engagement activities and sales/marketing if time allows.

4:00 PM - Workout and go for a jog with my family.

5:00 PM - Play with my son.

7:00 PM - Finish up any other activities on my calendar.

10:00 PM - Light TV time before bed.

4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

Never assume. It can make things worse and could impact you financially. Always check-in and ensure everyone knows exactly what to do before leaving them to go at it alone.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

I will opt for the most recent book, which was Phil Knight's Shoe Dog, the story about Nike. I am a believer of the following quote, and actually preach this to my clients often: “I’d tell men and women in their mid twenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.”

This book resonated with me and impacted my leadership offering because I found that the key values of Phil's career journey was to surround yourself with talented people, never give up, fake it until you make it, and lean on luck a little.

6. How do you build leadership capacity in a large enterprise?

I've found that receiving clarity on what is the best use of my time as well as recognizing the talents and the value of each person on my team are the two biggest ways for me to build leadership capacity.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise so far?

Client conversations that resonate way beyond the transaction. When I can build rapport with a client and have meaningful, deep conversations about more than the task at hand, that gets me up in the morning.