69. From Math Teacher to CEO: Adam Boddison’s Unconventional Leadership Playbook

CEO —  SECRETS OF THE CAREER GAME — EPISODE 69

How does a math teacher become a game-changing CEO? Adam Boddison breaks down his journey from classroom to the boardroom, breaking away from the “perfect executive” myth, Adam reveals why making mistakes might be your secret weapon to becoming a stronger leader. From his unconventional path as a math teacher to leading multiple organizations, he shares raw insights about what really happens in the CEO’s office (spoiler: it’s not just taking calls and yelling at shareholders).

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Adam breaks down how Gen Z is flipping the script on workplace dynamics, bringing a refreshingly honest approach to job interviews. His “convince yourself, convince a friend, convince an enemy” problem-solving framework offers a powerful new way to tackle complex organizational challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why admitting mistakes could be your leadership superpower
• How Gen Z is revolutionizing workplace culture and recruitment
• The truth about solving unprecedented challenges as a CEO
• Why technical skills might be overrated in hiring decisions
• Building high-performing teams through unexpected combinations

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Key Takeaways

Journey to Executive Leadership (00:00 – 09:31)

• Adam Bodison, CEO of Association for Project Management
• Background: Math teacher, university work, international education programs
• First CEO role at National Association for Special Educational Needs
• Mistakes are inevitable and important for executive leadership
• Leaders should be open about mistakes, creating a more human connection
• Gen Z bringing fresh perspective to workplace culture and values

Unique CEO Problems and Team Building (09:31 – 17:39)

• CEO deals with cross-cutting, high-risk problems
• ‘Convince yourself, convince a friend, convince an enemy’ problem-solving approach
• Importance of building relationships with challenging team members
• CEO role involves solving new, unprecedented issues
• Team building focuses on people rather than structure
• Combining individual talents for greater team effectiveness
• Aligning personal career ambitions with organizational goals

Recruitment and Leadership Advice (17:39 – 27:00)

• Shift from technical hiring to focus on good people who work well together
• Challenges with formal HR processes in capturing intangible qualities
• Chemistry becoming more important than skills at senior levels
• Three pieces of advice for career growth:

1. Aim high, especially early in career
2. Build the right team, including people different from yourself
3. Pick impactful projects that are realizable

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