Today we’d like to introduce you to Edwin Powali.
Hi Edwin , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I come from a middle-class family of 5 with two older sisters and mother & father who are still together after 54 years. I was born in Cleveland and was moved to Tampa FL at the age of 4. This is where I tell people I am from since I do not remember anything about Cleveland. Raised in the suburbs of Tampa, I had a pretty normal life , played all sports all through childhood including high school. I got a little off track in life when I decided that partying was more fun than responsibilities. This then got a bit out of control, ran through a good portion of the 20s, which included multiple run-ins with the law. (Not sure how much you want here, feel free to follow up with me for more detail). Then, around 28, I started to get my life together after I was holding a sign on the side of a major highway in my hometown for 10 bucks an hour for a vitamin store, thinking to myself, what the hell am I doing. Feeling shamed and embarrassed for my past regressions. So, I found a recruiter to help me find the next chapter in my life. This recruiter was just terrible. So this turned into a bit of frustration and downright anger. So I started looking into recruiter jobs. I said “I can do a better job than this”, which fueled my start in the industry. I found a company that took a 2 hour bus ride as I was getting my self back on my feet. No car , no money, in a terrible relationship that was only making things worse. After the first 6 months, I bought a car and then kept working at the same place for 12 years. During the time at this company, I found myself seeing the unfairness and dog-eat-dog world it was. I did not have the greatest relationship with one of the owners, with whom I would at times have verbal altercations. Just not what an office environment should be. So once again thought to myself , I can do this better. Got frustrated and angry. So I started to put together a plan. How things could be better culturally and less toxic. So I got together some funding and started pitching the idea to my colleague Bryce Batts. It took me about a year to convince her. She has the family , kids and husband so I understood the risk was greater. But she was a top performer and her ability to balance a loving marriage, two kids with extracurricular activities and beat me in performance. I knew there was no one else who worked harder than me than her. I looked up to her in this regard. Once she was a go, we put everything in motion and here we are. Going on 5 years of business together and looking forward to the next 5 plus. We have created a great work environment where we give back more than we get. We created an environment where the team can make as much as we do, if not more, at times. We offer great pay and benefits cause we know how difficult this job can be. So we wanted to reward that. Now we have the two offices, one here in Raleigh and one in Tampa. We have 15 people total and looking to grow again this year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the most part, it has been pretty smooth. No new business comes without obstacles. Learning financials , we are new to hiring and firing at this level. Making owner decisions overall is pretty tough. I think one of the biggest ones is the personal connection we make with our staff, and when the performance doesn’t make financial sense, having those hard conversations. It’s very tough since we are very personable people. Also , balancing resources for cost
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are a niche firm in the AEC staffing space. Architectural Engineering and Construction. We help candidates across the nation find the next step in there career. We work with all size companies. We cover all disciplines within the AEC industry. We help our clients find what they need in the fastest possible way.
How do you think about happiness?
Family. friends and experiences. I value relationships more than most things. More than money or materials. Dont get me wrong , I like nice things, first class flights, nice hotels and travel destinations. But with what I have gone through in life and how I was raised. I have learned that who you know and your relationships with those people are priceless.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mycareercollective.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mycareercollective/?viewAsMember=true
