Episode 74: How to Apply Non-Business Skills at Work with James McAtamney
“Just go and get involved in something. Get out of your day-to-day, go do something interesting.
Who knows, you might love it!”
James McAtamney, Actuary and Musician
Actuary and musician James McAtamney shares what he’s learned from music and growing up in a family business that has helped him build valuable skills that he’s transferred to the workplace..
In this interview James shares:
How playing in orchestras and ensembles taught him to listen, blend, and balance dynamics rather than always being the loudest voice in the room,
How community theatre exposed him to authentic conversations and diverse perspectives that help him navigate workplace interactions with greater empathy,
How musical collaboration showed him when to step back and let others shine, creating space for quieter team members to contribute their insights,
How authentic conversations outside corporate structures provide tools for more genuine workplace interactions, and
How early immersion in family business operations builds resourcefulness and portfolio thinking for managing complex ventures.
“Teamwork means different things to different people. James reminds us that sometimes we need to just get out of the way and allow our colleagues to leverage their unique talents.”, says guest host Martin Mulcare.
James McAtamney is an actuary and musician working as an independent senior advisor and entrepreneur in Australia and internationally. He is the Founder and Managing Director of McAtamney & Advisors, Principal of Vanguard Overwatch, and Co-Founder of Timbre Collective.
James has the rare combination of a creative and analytical mind. From an early age, he participated in theatre, music, and choral programs at school and in the community. He also learned the different jobs in his family’s (now second generation) fishing business that his parents founded and built from the ground up – peeling prawns, learning the bookkeeping, serving customers in the retail shop, right down to scrubbing the bins out! These early experiences instilled a strong work ethic and a community- and business-mindedness that are reflected today in James’ diverse business and creative portfolio and his approach to work.
James is an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies and Finance) from the University of New South Wales and an Associate Recital Diploma in Piano from Trinity College London.
Our guest host, Martin Mulcare, is a qualified actuary, experienced senior leader and a talented facilitator. He enjoys working with different types of people and he loves sharing ideas. Formerly the facilitator of the Professionalism Course, Martin is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Ethics Centre and is the Chairman of the Board of The Growth Project.
Connect with James on LinkedIn.
Connect with Martin on LinkedIn.
Views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views of their places of work.
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