wallydownundy

I met this morning with a former client from my days in Hong Kong. Then he led marketing at a funds management firm. Today he’s CEO for Australia of a major mutual fund company.

Sydney has so much going for it. It’s one of the best cities in the world with beaches, parkland, restaurants…you name it! It’s a great city to raise children with low crime and few social issues of concern.

Yet it isn’t Hong Kong, London or New York. For a career it can mean a step sideways (or backwards) versus the global opportunities in other cities. My friend had led all his company’s international business from London. When I was in the USA I led global communications at Ford Credit ($210 billion in 40 countries).

Australia is far removed from the major global markets so most Sydney roles are national in scope. While the USA has a market of 300 million people, Australia is 1/10th that size. This lack of density allows the quality of life. But if you’ve cut your teeth in a bigger market some days Sydney feels slow. For family that’s a blessing. For the career that’s a “road less travelled.”