From Ninja Turtle to Operations Manager: Who is Paul Gedeon?

Meet Paul.

When Paul was a kid, he wanted to be a WWE Wrestler (or a football player, Ninja Turtle or an actor). He is now our resident Operations Manager in Macquarie Cloud Services.

Paul is the doting father to his adorable little daughter, a terrible chess player and blames COVID-19 for his recent addiction to comic related movies (but can you really blame COVID-19, Paul?)

Let’s have a chat.

You wanted to be a WWE wrestler when you were a kid. Instead you started with Macquarie Technology Group as a Graduate. Discuss.

Firstly, I realised I probably wasn’t going to make it as a Wrestler (or actor, or Ninja Turtle or professional football player – LOL) . I studied to be a Journalist, and then held a couple of jobs before joining Macquarie Technology Group as a Graduate in Telco’s Hub.

The Hub Grad Program gave me insight into to the world of customer service, and Information Technology. It showed me how to work with people and gave me much needed direction.

The Hub Grad Program gave me insight into to the world of customer service, and Information Technology. It showed me how to work with people and gave me much needed direction.

Spending a lot of time around the right people really showed me what I can become down the line, and I really do owe a lot of Macquarie.

You’re what we call ‘a boomerang’. After joining us as a Graduate, you then left us, missed us and came back to us. If you had your time again, would you do it the same way?

Interestingly, yes.

Macquarie gave me my first opportunity in a full time “corporate” job, so I will always have a love for the place – but I think if I hadn’t left Macquarie to join another organisation, I wouldn’t have gained the level of perspective from the outside.

Leaving gave me the opportunity to learn what the broader industry was doing, how other companies work, and also forced me to “grow up”. I came back with more to offer.

It was an easy choice to return for many reasons. The main ones are my colleagues, the challenges and the culture – the company, basically! I love working with our people, customers and technology. It was an awesome opportunity to do what I love, in a place I love.

What advice do you have for Grads out there, applying for roles?

Patience: Your opportunity in life is going to come when you lay the right foundations. You need to be patient. Don’t expect to be a superstar player within 12 months by trying to rush through the necessary steps. I made that mistake a few times. Take the necessary steps, don’t jump ahead and you’ll be more confident.

“Your opportunity in life is going to come when you lay the right foundations. You need to be patient. Don’t expect to be a superstar player within 12 months…”

Hunger: You need to be hungry for something. Nothing in life is going to come to you – you are the one that needs to go for it. Be pro-active, get up every day, plan your day accordingly, and smash it out.

Milton Berle once said “…if opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”