Nick Halley: Generalist Problem Investigator
Put yourself in the shoes of a 20-year-old rising star in culinary school. You landed a dream externship sitting at the helm of a minor league stadium’s entire food operation.
You spent the summer stepping in to drive every conceivable aspect of the business - from ordering to hiring and even working at the concession stands.
Every day brings a fresh crisis.
While you are able to fill in the gaps, by the end of the season you are wiped out and wonder if your ability to step up and do so much was problematic.
Meet Nicholas Halley: Leader | Dot-Connector | Chef
After thinking about his time at the ballpark, he realized the value of being able to handle many roles at once. He wasn't just good at one thing; he could adjust to whatever the day brought.
While draining at times, it was also invigorating.
Nick also realized that a kitchen wasn’t the only place for this approach and set out to find opportunities that would leverage his previous experience AND allow him to build new skills.
This path took him through catering to the world’s athletes at the Olympics, working in HR at a catering company, and eventually to an Apple store, figuring out how to get the new Apple for Business program off the ground.
The challenge was to move small business owners from their beloved PCs to Apple Products.
His team tested things like switching to iPhone, leasing Mac Pros, and teaching local businesses to use Apple technology - eventually turning the Apple Store into a community hub.
The strategy paid off and the business segment represented 30% of the store’s revenue just two years into the program.
Following his tenure at Apple, Nick pursued roles that highlighted his knack for connecting dots.
Today, he's recognized as a servant leader, adept at bringing people together.
By facilitating meaningful discussions, he helps teams converge on crucial questions:
Is this an issue?
How significant is it?
And, how can we solve it together?
He offers this advice for other Generalists:
1️⃣ Never settle, don’t duck and cover.
2️⃣ Be part of the solution when others see only the issues.
3️⃣ Done is better than perfect.
With over 15 years at tech powerhouses like Apple, Amazon, and Compass Real Estate, Nick offers a blend of tech, retail, and real estate expertise centered on exceptional customer experiences. Passionate about leading business units, he equally prioritizes employee well-being.
A winner of the national cooking contest by Johnson & Wales University, he's a professional chef who kickstarted his journey with the Epicurean Culinary Group, making marks at events like the 2002 Olympics and 2009 X-Games.
Now, this Colorado native relishes life in Seattle, teaching his three daughters the joys of cooking and exploring the Pacific Northwest through camping and SCUBA diving.
Join us in Breaking the Mold: Generalists Who Thrive in a Specialist's World as we explore real-life examples of generalists connecting dots, innovating, and solving problems.