Talking heads: Liam McBride

Position: Director

Company: NZIJ Stockbrokers

Age: 23


What makes your day at work?


When I'm involved in learning. It doesn't matter whether it is something big or small, whether it is me or somebody else, intentional and worked hard for or just a sudden realisation. That moment when people realise they know a bit more than they did previously is what really makes my day.

What was the most important lesson you learned on your way up?


That there is no such thing as a dumb question. Being so much younger and less experienced than other people in the industry has always been intimidating. I have found most people more than happy to share their knowledge and experience.

How have you come to be the youngest person admitted to Stock Exchange membership?

Working for a small firm has given me opportunities I could not get in a larger firm. Being the youngest full member of the NZSE was not a long-term goal, it was more the result of enjoying working hard at what I was doing, and then realising it was attainable and going for it with the firm's support.

How have you dealt with the pitfalls in your career?


While I wouldn't consider myself to have had a career yet, and through the support of those around me haven't encountered many pitfalls, the challenges so far have been met with honesty. Once you can admit to yourself, and others, that there is a problem, I have found people really helpful at dealing with whatever it is so we can move on.

What annoys you most?


New Zealand's short-term view on everything. Good investment decisions need to be made over a long-term timeframe - at least five years. But, from the top down, New Zealand seems to think of six months as long term. The same could be said about science, education and many other things. In order to achieve results you need to do your research, agree on a plan to achieve your goals, be aware of the possible consequences, and then stick to the plan unless something happens that fundamentally changes things. Even more annoying is people who claim to have a long-term view and have a knee-jerk reaction without thinking about the consequences.

What management wisdom is most overrated?


The idea that management is wise. Management wisdom is a bunch of old wives' tales. People have found that stuff works, so it becomes management wisdom. The most underrated piece of wisdom is to listen to the people actually at the coal-face doing the job, and work out a way to meet challenges from that base. In my experience, rules will be bent to make them workable, so why put rules/procedures in place without talking to those who know better what will work in the first place?

If you were starting over again, what would you be?

If I had the chance I would like to have done something "productive." Sharebrokers - like lawyers, accountants, and politicians - could be put end-to-end at the bottom of the ocean and life would go on for everybody else. Although they do serve a useful purpose, I wouldn't describe it as essential. I would go into science, engineering or farming, where you are clearly helping to develop humanity. It's not really useful thinking too much about "what ifs," though. If I really wanted to be doing something else I could start now, but I enjoy what I am doing and get to assist scientists, engineers and farmers because they either have investments or a need for capital.

What will be the big business issue of the next decade?


Will we as a nation decide on our goals and rules and stick to them? It is interesting to observe that in the past decade the US has achieved a reasonable level of success in the economic, social and other arenas. What they have had, and what we need, is consistency of laws. As long as the rules remain basically the same I have faith that as a country we can amend or ignore those rules that are not in our best interests. Vision would be great as well, in tackling issues like how we train people to meet the shortages that will exist when they finish their training.

How do you relax?


To be perfectly honest, I don't. I enjoy unwinding and doing all those typical things - sports, food, drink, doing nothing, travelling. It would be nice to be able to completely switch off and relax, but even if I could I'm not sure I would want to.

Liam McBride talked to Dita De Boni.