Mark Wales grew up in the red dirt of West Australian mining towns in the Pilbara. After deciding he wanted to join the SAS in high school, Mark embarked on a career in the Australian military that would eventually lead him to the battlefields of Afghanistan. As a Troop Commander in charge of 30 elite soldiers, Mark’s role was to lead combat missions against senior enemy commanders, deep behind enemy lines. Through this unique and harsh environment, Mark developed his skills in leadership, teamwork and high performance.
Like many in his situation, Mark battled depression and stress disorders after warfighting in Afghanistan. He tackled recovery with the same intensity he applied to Special Ops training. He rigorously researched the fundamentals of neurobiological science and the benefit of skill development. This approach underpinned a strong recovery and drove personal growth far beyond his previous abilities.
Previous Experience:
Mark’s successful recovery and growth led him to embark on a high profile career in business. With four attempts of the GMAT, he was accepted into an Ivy League college in the U.S.A, and after graduation, he joined McKinsey & Company, a respected consulting outfit also known as ‘The Firm’. He founded a fashion startup Kill_Kaptur, a tough-luxury eCommerce brand. He was a competitor in Australian Survivor 2017, the world’s #1 reality TV show.
An avid surfer, boxer, and cook, Mark stays active and keeps his experiences as varied as possible. He believes that past experience should never be a limitation to embarking and excelling in something new.
Mark loves to reveal the common threads that run through human competition in all arenas, and the importance of a growth-mindset to overcoming mental illness and drive success in future endeavours.
Talking Points
5 Pillars for Building Team Resilience
- Learn proven mechanisms to help boost performance and satisfaction in team members5 Pillars for Building Team Resilience
- Build a clear definition of the mission, and a cadence that allows teams to learn, act and respond faster than
the changing environment
- Learnings are based on Mark’s experience in fighting alongside small, agile teams
5 Steps to Build Individual Resilience
- Learn a 5-step sequence for developing team resilience, linking diet, exercise, rest, purpose and connection 5 Steps to Build Individual Resilience
to build lasting personal resilience
- The integration of physical and mental health - learn how to view them as a system and not discrete
elements
- This is as much a mental health and wellness keynote than it is a performance session
Leading Teams Remotely
- Learn about how the same principals that allow military special forces to operate on their own for weeks at a Leading Teams Remotely
time, can be applied to your remote teams
- Get tips for applying ‘mission command’: this utilised intention-based direction and devolves execution to the
coal-face: small teams with speed, initiative and agility
- Aimed at remote teams and team leaders this leans on Mark's experience as a McKinsey Consultant and
Special Ops Officer in wartime
Video
Mark Wales | Saxton Speakers
Mark’s 16-year career with the Australian Military and 6-year career with Australian Special forces has taken him to the most remote of places overseas. As a Troop Commander in charge of 30 elite soldiers, Mark's role was to lead combat missions deep behind enemy lines. At the end of his career, he had completed 10 tours of duty to Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, Lebanon and the Solomon Islands. Mark's successful recovery and growth led him to embark on a high-profile career in business. He studied with the Wharton School of Business - before joining the elite consulting firm McKinsey & Company in New York City. Mark was listed in Wharton’s prestigious 40 under 40 awards for business excellence.Saxton Fireside Chat with Resilience Experts Samantha Gash & Mark Wales
The exchange of stories and ideas is more important now than ever. In this bi-weekly series of virtual Fireside Chats you can gain unprecedented access to the world's greatest storytellers and thought leaders. In this session, Mark and Samantha - the King and Queen of Resilience, share the rituals and routines that have helped them maintain resilience and mental and physical wellness throughout this pandemic.Mark Wales was an outstanding Guest Speaker at our regional health service AGM. With a mixed audience of over 200 people including staff and community members, Mark’s fabulous presentation a ... keep reading Northeast Health Wangaratta
Mark delivered a thought-provoking and insightful presentation. He displayed a level of vulnerability which was refreshing and enabled the audience to connect with him and his story. Mark also provided some very practical tips and was able to inspire others to make positive changes for both to improve mental health and perform better in the workplace. Mark made himself available during breaks and lunch to speak with individuals and answer questions and this was appreciated by many. On an administrative note, Mark was easy to contact, engage with and he was punctual and well prepared.
Mark was very engaging and provided the perfect message that the team required as we head into another year of selling. Mark delivered a message that demonstrated mental strong, commitment, ownership and emotion. I would highly recommend Mark.
Mark spoke to our group of approximately 100 executives at a high profile leadership offsite. He led topics related to mental health and effective techniques for stress management in the workplace. He was deeply credible and highly engaging, drawing on his experience from both the battlefield and the boardroom. We would be thrilled to have Mark join us again in the future and would certainly recommend him for other engagements.
In his ‘Peer Perspectives on Leadership’ keystone speech at Wharton, Mark passed on thrilling lessons about life and leadership as a Troop Commander in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. The unit specialized in sensitive strategic operations, hostage recovery, counter terrorism, and precision air strikes. Mark completed 10 tours of duty overseas, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands. Experiences in each of these countries taught Mark about the importance of how personal values and your perspectives on life can shape your approach to leadership. An unforgettable talk.
