Career Insights with Ambition Episode 8 Meg D'Cruz "Staying Ahead in a Changing World"
Episode Summary:
In this insightful episode of Career Insights with Ambition, host Chris Crolla is joined by Meg D’Cruz, Director of Payroll Tax at Ryan Services, to explore her remarkable 28-year journey in payroll and employment taxes. What started as a chance role after aspiring to be a graphic designer has grown into a career defined by curiosity, initiative, and leadership.
Meg shares her experiences being part of EY and Ryan Services, including founding the Payroll Leadership Collective, a network dedicated to connecting payroll leaders across industries. She reflects on navigating the challenges of COVID-19, the pressures of payroll, and the opportunities technology offers to make processes more accurate and efficient. Her story shows how strong professional relationships, proactive problem-solving, and empowering teams can create lasting impact.
How the most unexpected beginning led to a rewarding career in payroll.
The art of thriving under high-pressure, high-stakes situations.
Leveraging AI and technology responsibly to enhance processes, without losing the human touch.
Building and nurturing professional connections early on can open doors to your dream career.
Leadership is about developing confident, self-sufficient teams who can succeed independently.
When traditional career paths don't fit, taking initiative and stepping into uncharted roles can be the best decision you will ever make.
Navigating disruptions, like the challenges brought by COVID-19, requires flexibility, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Meg D'Cruz
01:10 Meg shares her love for Formula One and American Muscle cars
02:02 From aspiring graphic designer to payroll professional
03:19 Thriving under the pressure and responsibility of payroll
04:06 Staying ahead of legislation, compliance, and AI developments
07:12 How it started: Building the Payroll Leadership Collective
08:53 Adapting to COVID-19 and leading teams remotely
11:10 Influencing through trust and research
13:29 Best practices for virtual leadership and team engagement
14:26 Meg's moment of truth: seeing her team succeed independently
17:33 Words of wisdom: curiosity, taking initiative, building relationships
Watch the full video of the podcast here:
Meg’s Moment of Truth:
A defining moment for Meg came when she realised her team could succeed without her direct involvement. Watching them take ownership of their work confirmed that her leadership approach was working and that allowed her to take on new challenges and responsibility.
“I know I've done my job well when they don't need me anymore. And usually that's when I move on from a role. So in my previous role, everything worked without me. I was like, oh, these guys are self-sufficient. They don't need me now.” – Meg D'Cruz
Want to follow in Meg’s footsteps? Are you asking yourself how do I become Director of Payroll?
Meg’s Words of Wisdom:
Meg's career journey offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to stay proactive and make an impact in the industry: 1. On curiosity and initiative. "Be curious. Don't just say, 'oh, it happens.' Find out why it happens and what you can do. You need to be the change." 2. On stepping out of your comfort zone. "Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone. Be up for the challenge. Test yourself. It's scary." 3. On building relationships. "I've always been a firm believer of building a network before you need it."
These quotes highlight Meg's approach: stay curious, act with initiative, and invest in your relationships - strengths that are essential for thriving in a fast-changing industry.
Career Insights with Ambition is hosted by Chris Crolla, Director of Ambition, Sydney. Chris started his recruitment career as a resourcer in internal audit back in 2011 and has worked his way up. Chris now leads the Sydney teams including accounting support, qualified finance, and technology & transformation. Chris provides unequivocal support, guidance, coaching, and direction. A keen sports fan, and proud husband and father, he’s passionate about building better futures for the leaders of tomorrow.
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