JUSTIN CARROLL

Inspire from the front, roll up your sleeves and push, the PwC Perth managing partner tells Sean Smith.

Biggest or best career break?

Probably being invited to join the boards at the University of Notre Dame in Australia and St John of God Healthcare because I think the opportunity to learn and contribute as a director has immeasurably informed the way I now view professional services. So really being shoulder to shoulder in a common endeavour can offer a very different perspective from that of a service provider across the table.

Describe your leadership style.

I’m a firm believer that the most important role that leaders play is supporting individuals, teams and organisations to maximise their potential. I subscribe to the Serve leadership model, which involves a combination of inspiring from the front, rolling up the sleeves and pushing a little from behind when required.

First or most unusual job?

My first job was as a nine-year-old running around behind a fruit and vegie truck touring the neighbourhood for a week. I did all the deliveries for a handful of change. We agreed we’d do the same the following week. To my disappointment, I never saw the truck again. That was my first lesson in getting important agreements in writing.

Best way to improve productivity?

The most sustainable productivity improvements, whether they are labour or capital, arise through innovation, which is often technology led. And just cutting costs, while it is an effective short-term measure, rarely results in long-term productivity gains. So the organisations and industries that foster a culture of innovation are most often going to get those meaningful productivity improvements. And obviously this isn’t easy, because innovation requires investment and a tolerance for failure as new ways of doing things are attempted. So the challenge is to create an environment that allows, in fact expects, questioning of existing business models and processes.

Most influential mentors?

I have been very fortunate to work with some fantastic professionals during my career. I’ve certainly learnt from Mike Colgan, one of my former partners, the importance of remaining faithful to a strong set of personal values in the face of pressure and challenge. And Frank Cooper’s guidance in the areas of leadership and contributions to the community has been, and continues to be, invaluable to me.

Do you use social media?

I’ll confess to being a relatively late adopter of social media personally. It does generate much eye rolling among the team in my office. I do find LinkedIn particularly useful in connecting with my network, given the time constraints on all of us. But I’m more of a voyeur on Twitter.

How do you spend your spare time?

I’m lucky to lead a really full life. Between family, sport, career and board involvements, I take every opportunity to head down to the family farm in Rosa Glen, south-east of Margaret River. I’m also involved in my son’s football side, the mighty Swanbourne Tigers. We’re in pre-season right now.

Last book you read?

I like to have a non-fiction and a fiction book on the go at the same time. Having said that, I’m currently reading Mawson by Peter FitzSimons, who has a fantastic way with historical novels. But to be completely honest, the last book I read was Geronimo Stilton: The Super Chef Contest, which is top of my eight-year-old daughter’s bestsellers list.

Favourite holiday destination?

Chandlers at Smiths Beach; there is no better ocean view. We’ve gone there every year for the past 10 to 12 years.

Your worst investment?

Probably my gym membership. It’s fair to say I’m still on a journey to realising full value there.

Biggest challenges facing the professional services sector in WA?

It’s still attracting and retaining talent, even though arguably the demand has lessened a little bit. There is such a magnetic pull to other big centres that attracting and retaining can be a challenge. We’re lucky in that we get to tap into a pretty agile national and global talent pool. to support our growth. But our clients are demanding broader capabilities every day, so we are just as likely to hire an engineer as an accountant now.