CFO Tom Bock reflects on two pivotal experiences that shaped his mindset as a leader. The first is a lesson from his childhood in communist Hungary, where his grandmother taught him the importance of responsibility and learning from life’s challenges. This early lesson instilled in him a lasting sense of duty and resilience.
Fast forward to 2005, during his first banking job at Citigroup, Bock worked 63 hours straight to prepare a pitch, ultimately leading to physical exhaustion and failure. This experience taught him three critical lessons: the importance of breaking down tasks into manageable parts, taking care of his physical well-being to maintain productivity, and recognizing when to seek help instead of trying to be a hero. Bock emphasizes that these lessons not only helped him improve his approach to work but also underscored the value of teamwork and learning from adversity. Bock tells us these insights have become foundational to his leadership style, ensuring that he prioritizes both his team’s well-being and their collective success.