Feeling Lost in Change

For Peter Wade, life and work are inextricably linked. Opportunities in one unlock experiences in the other. It’s openness to new experiences that led Peter on a journey from Melbourne to Sydney—with a 40,000-kilometer detour to the northern hemisphere.

“At 24, I was given the opportunity to work in New York and then, about 10 years later, in London. That’s the benefit of being young and having no ties – I jumped at the opportunity to have an adventure abroad.”

The International Adventure

Peter spent the first half of his career at JBWere, one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious stockbrokers. Early in his tenure, he was given the opportunity to help the organisation expand its presence into the US.

“The company was expanding its global footprint, so another colleague and I moved to New York to start a new office. I had the chance to work with people all around the world and quickly learned that I had to adapt to new people and cultures.”

Peter credits this experience as one of the best things that ever happened to him. Leaving Australia opened his eyes and pushed him out of his comfort zone. While he didn’t know anyone in the US, he quickly built a network and a social life with clients and colleagues. He was eventually promoted to head of the office and later purchased an apartment in the city. New York had begun to feel like home, which meant he wasn’t entirely pleased when he received his next assignment: London.

Despite his initial reservations, Peter found the UK to be another enriching experience. The London office was more established and was responsible for a much broader client base across both the UK and Europe. During his time there, he helped build a team and expand the presence of JBWere.

“Being a stockbroker is an intense lifestyle. Long hours with a lot of pressure – but if you find the right people, build trust, value them as individuals and treat them well you create an environment where employees look forward to coming to work; the company thrives.”

Having spent almost six years in London, Peter returned to Head Office in Melbourne but, not long after, was posted to Sydney where, as Managing Director, Peter was tasked to implement both structural and cultural change.

Leaving Finance Behind

After JBWere was acquired by Goldman Sachs, Peter recognised it was time to explore new opportunities. Over the next few years, he accepted various roles with JP Morgan and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia but soon encountered an unexpected challenge.

When he left the Commonwealth Bank, he initially assumed he would get another role in finance. However, as he explored the job market, he found his seniority was shaping up to be a disadvantage. The investment banking sector in Australia is relatively small, and he struggled to find a role that aligned with what he was seeking.

“I needed time to figure out what was next for me, but trying to find the right thing ended up taking more time than I anticipated.”

Keen to share his knowledge while exploring new opportunities to grow himself personally and professionally, Peter began consulting. He also served on several executive boards and explored various other roles. But after a career defined by clear direction and enthusiasm, Peter suddenly felt like he didn’t know what he was working towards.

“Ultimately, I had the sense that my career had gotten a little lost. This was a time where I needed help from someone but didn’t know where to get it.”

During the years when Peter explored potential paths, he often found himself wishing he had someone he could talk to about his career. He wanted someone who understood him and could offer a fresh perspective on the types of opportunities to which he could apply his skillset.

The Help He Wished He Had

That’s why he was intrigued when contacted by LHH who were recruiting senior leaders to establish a network of executive advisory services in APAC — they were keen for him to join ICEO as a peer adviser and provide the type of assistance he had been seeking to other leaders.

“I’m a great believer in serendipity. Having just been through the experience of reimagining my career without outside guidance, I had a strong sense of how important this work was.”

As a peer advisor to other executives, Peter has the opportunity to help individuals facing similar situations to his. Whether by choice or circumstance, his ICEO clients have exited careers they dedicated decades to. Some are retiring but hope to continue working in a reduced capacity, while others need to maintain their income. Some feel anxious about the future, while others are eager to explore opportunities they hadn’t considered before.

“I know firsthand what it’s like to need help… Everything from needing an empathetic ear, to evaluating career alternatives, to writing your first resume in 20 years. My experience showed me how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by all the change.”

Peter highlights how most people in this position need someone to ask them hard questions – and to challenge them in ways that friends and family won’t. This ensures executives identify the right place to start their journey and, ultimately, the best direction and opportunity for their next chapter.

More than a Role

Executives derive significant meaning from their jobs. Whether it’s the pride of being a final decision-maker or the connections formed through interactions with colleagues, their roles contribute to their identity. Being part of an organisation instils a sense of importance – and losing that can impact their confidence.

Peter appreciates the value of his journey to ICEO but still wishes he’d had an advisor to help him manage the challenges along the way.

“The hardest thing about leaving a role are the feelings of isolation and loneliness. But the reality is, it’s the first time in most executives’ careers when they have an opportunity to sit and reflect on what it is they want from work and, more importantly, what they have to offer.”

Peter experienced this firsthand. While he might have made different choices, his career break allowed him to build a portfolio of activities that kept him engaged. Whether through his work on executive boards, peer advisory or even his sports photography business, Peter’s career continues to support the life and experiences he’s looking for.

Peter brings not only his considerable professional experience as a values-driven leader but also his natural empathy to his advisory clients; he takes great satisfaction in showing up in support for those moving through their own career transition, helping them build resilience and finding the next opportunity.

Peter Wade is a Peer Advisor for ICEO (International Centre for Executive Options, Lee Hecht Harrison). As an ICEO Advisor, he and the rest of the team provide C-suite and senior executives with comprehensive peer-level support, connections and resources for all career options as they navigate high-level leadership transitions.

To find out more about our ICEO programs please contact Abhilash Kayarat, Business Development Director – APAC: iceo.apac@lhh.com