Working With Friends Completes Inaugural Cohort in Australia
August 26 - 30, 2024 | The LEA Global Working with Friends (WWF) Program has successfully completed its inaugural cohort in the Asia Pacific region! The 2024 cohort had the amazing opportunity to join fellow professionals from across Australia and New Zealand in Sydney, hosted by Prosperity Advisers Group.
This dynamic program was all about fostering collaboration and innovation across firms. It provided an excellent platform for participants to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and learn from one another. Here's a recap of the key highlights:
1. Networking and Collaboration
The program offered a fantastic opportunity to build connections within the LEA community. The 12 participants engaged in meaningful discussions on challenges like staff retention, business development, and attracting new talent. Sharing experiences with other firms was both insightful and energizing.
2. Leadership Insights from Industry Experts
A major highlight was the opportunity for participants to meet and learn from key leaders at Prosperity Advisers Group, including CEO and Founder Allan McKeown and several directors. These sessions provided invaluable insights into leadership, business development, and career growth. The welcome brunch with Allan McKeown and Siobhan Sellick (Head of Sydney) set the tone for the week, fostering an open environment for learning and collaboration.
Additionally, the session led by Colin Samuel on building deep client relationships and the career development discussions with Alex Hardy and Ben Hailstone were highly impactful.
3. Adapting to Change and Technology
Participants reflected on current practices and explored how technology and operations at other firms could enhance workflow efficiency and business operations. These discussions reinforced the importance of continuous adaptation in the face of rapid change.
4. Eye-Opening Comparisons
The program helped participants recognize how advanced certain practices in their firms were, compared to others. This boosted confidence and underscored the value of knowledge-sharing and mutual support among firms.
5. Vulnerability and Openness
One key takeaway was the importance of being open and vulnerable in discussing how firms operate and where improvements can be made. This collaborative environment allowed participants to share openly and learn from one another.
The WWF cohort walked away with invaluable insights into business strategies and professional development as well as meaningful connections with peers across the region. In addition to the thought-provoking workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions, the program was balanced with engaging social activities, including trivia nights and go-karting, which added an element of fun and camaraderie. The entire experience enriched participants, professionally and personally, leaving them energized to apply their learnings and strengthen their networks.
Once again, LEA Global would like to sincerely thank Allan McKeown for successfully adapting and implementing Working with Friends in the Asia Pacific region. Your leadership and support helped make it a highly valuable experience for all participants.
We’re excited to continue offering programs like this to foster collaboration, learning, and innovation across firms. If you're not already involved, consider joining the Young Professionals Group, and stay tuned for future opportunities. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!