William Ross - Village Manager

Will says the team at Sodexo not only gave him the confidence to undertake more responsibility but supported him every step of the way on his path to Village Manager. The team’s support and encouragement has propelled Will to positions he never even dreamt when he first landed his job at Sodexo.

Will Ross is a Village Manager at one of Sodexo’s newest villages, Japukayinya Village in the Pilbara.

The responsibility Will has taken on in his managing role at a new village and contract for the business is testament to his diligent work ethic, and dedication to seeing a job through. Despite being a manager brimming with such obvious outward talent, it took a lot of convincing for Will to take opportunities outside of his comfort zone.

With the support of his team, supervisors, and newfound network in Perth, Will has upskilled and learnt to back himself with a confidence that continues to impress.

Humble beginnings and humble goals

When Will moved to Perth from New Zealand, his goal was simple—a fresh start. Will was happy to remain in hospitality, an industry he knew well and was comfortable with, if it meant helping his move from his home country.

“I'm from a very humble background, so the Kitchen Hand role at Sodexo was perfect for me,” he said.

I never ever looked at climbing the chain. I just came here to get by, to fill up biscuits and do dishes, pretty much.

Despite his humble beginnings and simple goals, Will has always been a hard worker and passionately applied himself to any endeavour. Initially, Will was content with remaining in the hospitality industry, working as a Kitchen Hand. However, his work ethic and leadership skills were evident, and he was promoted to a Dining Room Supervisor role. Even in this role, Will continued to push himself, taking on new responsibilities and leading by example.

My grandfather used to say, 'you're not working hard until your hands are bleeding.

This attitude and work ethic didn’t go unnoticed at Sodexo, which is why the team began approaching him with opportunities for progression.

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

Will had grappled with his imposter syndrome since he was young. So, when the team at Sodexo encouraged him to accept promotions, he was faced with a challenge—getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

After three and a half years in his Dining Room Supervisor position, Will had settled into his routine, and was confident that he was doing a good job.

“It took someone booting me off the edge of a cliff to make me uncomfortable, which is where I should be,” Will said.

My Village Manager at the time approached me a couple of times with the same offer, and it wasn’t until she said to me ‘you can’t just stay comfortable in dining your whole life’ that I really woke up to the possibilities that were around me.

Although daunting, Will says the team at Sodexo not only gave him the confidence to undertake more responsibility, but supported him every step of the way on his path to Village Manager.

The team’s support and encouragement has propelled Will to positions he never even dreamt when he first landed his job at Sodexo.

After just three months spent as a Trainee Village Manager, Will moved into an Assistant Village Manager position before taking on his current role at a brand-new village where he continues to flourish.

A lesson in the importance of chosen family

Acclimatising to the Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) lifestyle can be just as challenging as personal growth and starting in a new role. However, Will said that it is the community at Sodexo—his chosen family—that has been integral to adapting to FIFO, let alone a different country.

With his family back home in New Zealand, Will found comfort and belonging in his new, second family at Sodexo. He said the relationships he has fostered at Sodexo allow him to feel a sense of trust and support within his community, a small but important aspect that makes all the difference when working FIFO.

“There is a lot of opportunity out in the west, but it's hard going,” Will said.

Establishing your tribe is so important. I've made lifelong friends and family at Sodexo that I rely on day-to-day, and who rely on me in turn.

I love what I do. I love our company. It's really cool.

If you're looking for a company that prioritises your professional development and career advancement, consider applying for a position with Sodexo.

Start your journey towards a fulfilling and successful career in the FIFO industry