In this episode, I sit down with Sam Wallis, CEO of GIA, to explore his unconventional path to leadership. Growing up in Southport and studying on the Isle of Man, Sam initially wanted to pursue a career in medicine before realising it wasn’t his true passion. His time in Edinburgh opened new doors and while he never envisioned becoming a chartered surveyor, he followed the family trade, securing a first-class degree and valuable work experience along the way.
Sam shares pivotal moments from his career, including early roles at EC Harris and Malcolm Hollis (now Hollis Global) and how his ambition led him to work in Australia before returning to the UK. He opens up about the decision to co-found GIA, its rapid expansion from two to twenty employees and the challenges of private equity investment and business growth.
We also discuss leadership struggles, time management and the importance of soft skills in business. Sam reflects on the lessons he's learned, from adapting leadership styles to keeping teams engaged. Plus, he shares his strategies for maintaining discipline - like email power hours, walking commutes and turning off notifications - to stay focused in a demanding role.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on career pivots, entrepreneurial growth and what it really takes to scale a business while leading effectively.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
See you next time,
Steve
----
This podcast is sponsored by Fidgens providing project and cost management services for real estate clients.
And finally, connect with me on LinkedIn where I share my thoughts on industry insights and updates.
----
Guest: Sam Wallis
You can follow Sam on LinkedIn here.
GIA is the UK and Ireland’s leading practice for Daylight, Sunlight, Rights of Light and related technology services. They use cutting-edge technology to accurately analyse and inform, providing a contextual approach to planning and development.
Their mission is to passionately and creatively tackle challenges in the built environment, revolutionising the industry by providing incisive solutions for every project they consult on. They work with architects, owners, occupiers, developers and planning consultants across both the public and private sectors.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!