Episode 117: From Contractor to Consulting CEO with James O'Sullivan

In the latest episode of Climb into Consulting, Nick is joined by James O’Sullivan, CEO of Project One. James' career demonstrates that you don't have to follow a traditional career path to succeed in our industry. After sending letters to all of the FTSE 100 and being rejected by 99 of them, James began his project management career at Tate and Lyle. After this, he developed his passion for change management and continued on to lead major change programmes for Lloyds Banking Group and NAB for the next 25 years. But, there is more to James' story than just contracting success. Since joining Project One in 2014, James has risen through the ranks to become CEO. With such a wealth of experience and a passion for doing things differently, Nick and James discuss a wide range of topics, including: - James' early career and how his time in ‘in house roles’ set him up for success leading Project One. - Project One’s unique approach and why they ignore many of the industry norms when it comes to running their business. - And, James’ transition to becoming CEO and his advice if you’re about to undertake a leadership change in your own firm. It doesn't matter whether you're on the path to becoming CEO or already there, James has some insider advice you'll benefit from. We hope you enjoy the show! Find out more about James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-o-sullivan-3a2596/ Learn more about Project One: https://projectone.com/ Books and podcasts mentioned by James: Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Iceberg-Melting-Succeeding-Conditions/dp/0230014208 The High Performing Podcast: https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/