Human on the Inside with Anna Mackenzie
Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Maxme: Welcome Anna, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight.
You’re currently a multi-hatted ‘generalist’ with a portfolio career spanning Startup Advisor & Operator, Portfolio Career Mentor & Writer.
In 1 … ok, we’ll give you 3, sentences, what does your work entail?
Anna Mackenzie: Hey! I’m Anna, a Startup Advisor & Operator, Portfolio Career Mentor and Writer. I’ve had an ultra squiggly career working across corporate, small business, high growth startups and scale-ups, as the founder of my own brand and now a solo operator with a portfolio of projects, clients and income streams:
I help startups from Pre-Seed to Series A start, grow and scale their businesses globally. I work with both AU and US businesses with a focus on consumer brands (specifically beauty) and B2B tech. My engagements are in a fractional, consulting or advisory capacity, depending on the scope.
I'm a Portfolio Career Mentor, helping those who aspire to leave the 9-5 (or who already have) build a diversified and sustainable portfolio of work
I write the popular weekly newsletter Anna Mack’s Stack, where I share weekly guidance and practical insights to help others build a portfolio career and life on their own terms
I offer a digital product called the Portfolio Career Operating System; an all-in-one productivity tool and educational resource designed to help people run their portfolio career like a well oiled machine
Sorry! 3 sentences was too hard haha.
M: A seasoned professional with a diverse portfolio career, you boast over a decade of experience helping startups from pre-seed to Series A stages grow and scale globally, specialising in consumer brands and B2B tech. With expertise spanning areas such as product strategy, concept development, and innovation, career highlights include launching Japanese retailer UNIQLO in Australia, and spearheading innovative retail concepts at MECCA.
As the co-founder of lady-brains (2017), a platform supporting female entrepreneurs, you created a vast, highly engaged community through events, mentorship, and the award-winning lady-brains podcast.
At present, you’re the proud author of Anna Mack’s Stack - a newsletter offering guidance on building a fulfilling portfolio career, and have earned an enviable reputation as a dynamic force in business innovation and mentorship.
How does all this speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
AM: My purpose is to inspire people to shake off traditional structures and build careers and lives that exist at the intersection of freedom, creative fulfilment, meaning and money. It’s also to use my words and spread helpful ideas and perspectives that inspire people to change their lives for the better. There is nothing I love more than to sit down and bang at my laptop for hours on end, crafting stories and sharing lessons that make a reader feel something.
I’m a big believer that if I want to write interesting and useful things that will help people change their lives, then I need to live an interesting life. To me, this involves working across a diverse range of passions and projects and having a life that’s filled with creativity and adventure.
Having a varied work background where I’ve been part of many types of businesses, and where I’ve been able to flex my commercial left brain and creative right in equal measure, allows me to have interesting stories and valuable lessons to share. I wouldn’t have a unique perspective without my unique career history.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
AM: After high school, I studied a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, International Studies) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Management) at the University of Melbourne. I enjoyed both degrees but loved International Studies the most, and my one goal in life was to become a spy. And so, in my last year of uni while my fellow Commerce grads were applying for jobs at the Big 4, I secretly applied to one of Australia’s top intelligence outfits. I went on to spend ten months going through an intense recruitment process - the most insane experience of my life so far - before bombing out at the final round and being told I couldn’t reapply for seven years. It was devastating and I didn’t have a backup plan, but I somehow found my feet and forged a career in business and writing that draws more heavily on the other areas of study (Psychology and Business).
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21 year old self it would be ...
AM: I’m a big believer that the worst experiences of our lives (like rejection, heartbreak, big mistakes, failure) come right before the best ones. If something you really wanted doesn’t happen or if things don’t go to plan, don’t worry. Something greater is right around the corner.
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace or industry right now?
AM: In my work as a writer, it’s all about human skills. AI written content is everywhere and most of us can spot it from a mile away. As AI infiltrates our platforms and publications even more, human skills like storytelling become even more important. As writers we’ll need to be less generic and more specific, less black and white and more nuanced, less surface level and more vulnerable.
In terms of the startup space, I think businesses are built and made based on a Founder’s soft skills. They need to be able to craft and communicate a vision, build trust, bring the right people together to grow something from nothing, navigate uncertainty and deal with incredibly high levels of stress. All things that can’t be outsourced or delegated to AI.
M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait / personal superpower?
AM: I’d say I’m equal parts left brain and right brain, meaning I’m just as comfortable coming up with sales targets and managing cash flow as I am writing a compelling story or creatively directing a photoshoot. Having this balance means that most tasks are within my realm of capability, which has been my core competitive advantage while building my one-person-business / portfolio career.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
AM: Conflict resolution and having hard conversations! In the past I’ve struggled with this in personal and professional contexts, and as a recovering people pleaser I’m always trying to combat the fear of communicating my boundaries and being clear about what is and isn’t ok. It’s a constant work in progress!
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to build a portfolio career, what would it be?
AM: Everything in life is an experiment, including your career. It’s perfectly acceptable to try different types of work and explore different pathways until you find one that feels right. It’s perfectly acceptable to pivot and do something completely different (I’ve done it many times!).
The most important thing isn’t to pick a path and stick to it, it’s to adopt a test-and-learn mindset, throw spaghetti against the wall (in other words, try stuff), figure out what you like and what excites you, and double down on that.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your business, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
AM: To me, hard skills matter way less to me than someone’s attitude and hunger to learn. I look for people who are curious and proactive, those who are willing to fail, those who are comfortable in ambiguity and uncertainty, and those who are courageous enough to take a risk and put themselves out there.
M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”
What’s next on your #learning agenda?
AM: I consider myself a lifelong learner and my personal style involves throwing myself in the deep end and learning on the job. Right now, I’m in the process of evolving my portfolio of work from just delivering high touch services to include scalable products, and so I’m learning everything that comes along with that shift. Building products, setting up a tech stack, marketing, customer service - all of it!
Ready to develop the human skills within your organisation, team or self? Explore our menu of Maxme Products & Programs or simply download the Hodie app to get started today.
Prefer to talk through your options? Simply contact us at any time.
More human goodness you might like:
