Member Spotlight - Jodi Walton

Jodi Walton
Managing Director - Harrison McMillan
BCD Executive Member, Adelaide

Tell us about your role and what keeps you engaged at work…

As Managing Director of Harrison McMillan - a company which comprises of 5 business lines – permanent recruitment, contract recruitment, executive recruitment, outsourced HR and project RPO (recruitment process outsourcing) my role is very busy and very varied which I love.  My key responsibilities include strategy, operations management, financial management, team management, project management, business development, and I also deliver on executive recruitment projects.  

What is your greatest career achievement?

Right at this moment my greatest achievement is having a thriving business which has won numerous national awards for our “Recruitment 4.0” business model and which continues to go from strength to strength.   

Can you tell us about a challenge you have faced and how you overcame this?

Certainly the biggest challenge that many businesses have faced is the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic implications.  I overcame this by getting prepared very early on, before the situation became critical.  I brought the management team together for a “war room” session in which we agreed on the 3 key priorities which were:

• Remain profitable

• Retain our team

• Remain healthy

We then undertook a SWOT of the business with each of these priorities in mind and developed management, sales and financial plans for various scenarios.  As the situation escalated we were well organised and well positioned in the implementation of our plans, we communicated regularly with our team, clients and vendors and ultimately were lucky enough to not only survive but thrive through the experience.

What are the key reasons you continue to be involved with behind closed doors:

• The ability to share my concerns and doubts in a supportive and safe environment

• The ability to learn from the wealth of experience around the table

• The excellent presenters

• The relationships that you form with like-minded people
  

- Jodi Walton, October 2020