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More than a decade ago, Ben King was approached by the head of Google Southeast Asia with a question: what did he want to do? Ben's response was straightforward鈥攈e asked to be given the hardest problem that particular leader was facing at the time. From there, he was sent on various assignments across Southeast Asia, working to build teams (and Google鈥檚 businesses) across Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Today, he is Google Singapore鈥檚 Managing Director, leading Google鈥檚 sales and business development within the country.

As part of our 鈥楢sk Me Anything鈥� series, members of the Sydney Alumni Community asked Ben about leadership, building confidence in management roles, and navigating an ever-evolving world.

Jobs in the age of AI

Working at Google, Ben is immersed in the fast-paced environment of regulatory changes and technological innovations. An alum asked 鈥淲hat do you think are the most crucial skills for success in today's rapidly evolving business landscape?鈥澛� Ben acknowledged a pressing concern - artificial intelligence.

鈥淥ne thing many people are worried about is skills obsolescence in the age of AI. It鈥檚 a legit concern,鈥� he said.

But this is not a new phenomenon 鈥� 聽major shifts in the way we work have happened before, like the shift to mobile and web, which transformed jobs and created new ones. Ben emphasised the greatest potential of AI lies in its ability to augment human capabilities including critical thinking, negotiation and influence.

Despite the uneasy realities of the rapid changes in the workforce and technology, Ben encourages an 鈥渁lways-on鈥� approach to learning.

鈥淏y continually focusing on updating/evolving oneself, people will be equipped to take advantage of new opportunities and as they arise,鈥� he said.

Ben outlined an always-on approach to learning in three steps:

1. Stay curious - don鈥檛 be afraid to be uncomfortable and explore the unfamiliar.
2. Build the right foundation - stay informed and up to date, particularly about knowledge relevant to your work.
3. Be bold and creative - apply new tools creatively and embrace new approaches to your day-to-day.

Storytelling is an overlooked skill聽

Another alum was curious about modern leadership, they asked 鈥淲hat traits do you see lacking in emerging leaders?鈥�

Ben pointed out that while many people get promoted based on their ability to deliver results, true leadership is about more than achieving targets.聽聽

鈥淎lthough rolling up sleeves and getting stuff done never really goes away, leadership requirements clearly go well beyond execution. It entails making decisions or breaking ties, creating space and processes to arrive at better-quality decisions..., optimizing towards empathy when needed, and being very comfortable with not being the expert in the room鈥� Ben explained.

Ben noted this shift in mindset isn't always easy to make, both emotionally and intellectually.聽聽

As people transition into leadership roles, Ben highlighted how storytelling is an often overlooked but important skill.聽

鈥淲hen it comes to winning hearts and minds, I think effective and engaging storytelling is an underrated attribute,鈥� he said.聽聽

Developing the confidence to lead

Our alumni also touched on the often daunting task of building confidence in leadership, particularly for those who may not enjoy people management. One alum expressed their concern, asking, 鈥淗ow do you develop the confidence to lead? I personally have never enjoyed people management.鈥澛�

Ben acknowledged that a good team needs both high-functioning individual contributors and leaders.聽

聽鈥淟eadership isn't for everyone, and that鈥檚 totally ok,鈥� he said. 聽

For those who aspire to lead but struggle with confidence, he reassured them that doubt is universal.聽

鈥淚'd suggest everyone suffers doubts, and if people tell you they don鈥檛, they are likely not telling you the truth!鈥� he said.聽聽

Ben鈥檚 advice to anyone who wants to build their confidence as a leader is to find a good coach and gradually expand your toolkit鈥攚hether through reading, researching best practices, or seeking opportunities to lead outside of work.聽

He also emphasised focusing on what you can control. 鈥淢oments where I felt under qualified... which can certainly dent confidence, I offset that by focusing on things I could control. My work ethic and preparation were controllable and helped me bridge the confidence gap,鈥� he said. Lastly, he reminded everyone, 鈥淵ou cannot make everyone happy, and you will not be perfect. Accept that upfront!鈥�

The 鈥楢sk Me Anything鈥� alumni series is designed to unlock the Sydney Alumni Community, bringing together esteemed alumni and industry leaders to share their expertise and insights via the Sydney Alumni Community Network on LinkedIn. Join today.