Ben Turner on Constructing You - Screw It, Let's Do It and Saying Yes

Ben Turner founded commercial building group, Henny, in 2018. Prior to this, his professional construction career has spanned numerous countries including United Kingdom, British Virgin Islands, China, Guam and Australia, with some of the largest global project management and construction firms, across a wide variety of projects. Following the completion of a Bachelor of Construction management from RMIT in 2001, where he graduated with 1st Class Honors, Ben went on to complete his graduate role with project management firm, Sinclair Knight Merz. Here, Ben worked across a range of key health, defence and correctional projects in Melbourne, regional Victoria and as far as Darwin. Ben spent a year managing a programme of works in Guam and upon returning to Australia managed the Australian ExxonMobil retail construction programme. After 7 years working here, with mentors he continues to call on to this day, Ben jumped the pond to London where he joined leading Construction firm, Galliford Try. It was in this role, and after just a year in the UK, that Ben was given the opportunity to meet with Richard Branson for a role with the prestigious Virgin Hotels brand. This move to the British Virgin Islands to work on the development of a new eco-resort was a once in a lifetime experience and the beginning of a mentor relationship with the entrepreneur that has had a huge impact on Ben's approach to his professional career and leadership. Upon arriving back in Melbourne in 2010, Ben joined Tier 1 commercial builder Hickory and embarked on a journey with them in their newest venture into prefabricated structures with Hickory Building Systems. Managing their Brooklyn factory for 4 years, Ben travelled with the HBS brand to China and a yearlong venture/adventure to set up a prefab factory in the country's north for a local consortium. Back in Melbourne, Ben then achieved considerable success as Project manager on many recognizable high-rise projects with Hickory – in particular, the multi award-winning 'Latrobe Tower', a 40+ level CBD tower. This project was the one that re-ignited Ben's passion for being a hands-on builder, creating structures from the ground up, managing designs and problem solving and driving amazing outcomes from his teams and for the clients. It is this passion to build that sparked his desire to create his own construction company that would put these values; honesty, integrity, accountability; above all others for the goal to simply 'build better'. In this episode, you'll gain insight to: The value of mentors and role models Building your support network Saying 'yes' and creating opportunities along the way Growing a business Imperative functions of a leader Creating diversity of experiences in your career And more. Resources : https://henny.com.au/ Show notes: If you enjoyed this episode, and you've learnt something or it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me, @elinormoshe_ or Elinor Moshe on LinkedIn. Don't forget you can also join the Facebook community to be part of the growing family of constructors who chose exceptional futures.