#69 - Glen Marshall on Building a Mission-Critical Business & Leveraging Military Skills

When Glen Marshall, CEO of AMS Group, first agreed to join Axons Unleashed, he jokingly claimed he'd be our most boring guest. As you’ll quickly discover in this dynamic episode with RT and Ryan, he couldn't have been more wrong! Glen's story is a remarkable masterclass in resilience, leadership, and entrepreneurial drive. It’s a journey that spans an impactful military career, deep dives into global private equity, a stint running a farm in Port Macquarie, and ultimately leading a company recognized as the 2023 Veteran Employer of the Year at the Prime Minister's National Veterans’ Employment Awards. AMS Group delivers critical solutions to government and industry across logistics, maritime surveillance, port piloting, and security—work that directly provides employees with the Meaningful Quotient (MQ) they crave after leaving the ADF. In this episode, you will learn: From Blacktown to Duntrune: Glen shares his origins, detailing how his early life and a formative work placement at an Air Dispatch Squadron set him on the path to becoming an Army officer. The Power of Self-Reliance: Find out how Glen intentionally leveraged his experience in the Army Reserve and with Special Operations forces to prepare himself for the challenge of officer training. The Property Portfolio Pivot: Glen reveals that his early investments, driven by an interest in property and negative gearing, created the financial independence needed years later to fund his own high-risk, high-reward business venture—a successful water treatment manufacturing company in the US. The Moment of Decision: Hear the incredible story of turning down a career-making promotion to Afghanistan from a General to pursue business and life goals, and why hating administration was the final push he needed. Military Leadership in Business: Glen discusses how the skills of planning, autonomy, and operating in remote locations—qualities inherent in ex-ADF personnel—are essential for AMS Group, a company he successfully tripled in size in just two years. Creating Purposeful Work: Discover why AMS actively recruits veterans and non-traditional candidates (like those from Stradbroke Island) and offers them mission-critical work—such as managing search and rescue logistics and piloting ships into port—to replace the sense of purpose often lost in transition. Finding Your Next High-Tempo Role: Glen outlines the broad range of trades and skill sets AMS Group employs across its diverse services, providing a roadmap for veterans seeking meaningful employment that utilizes their unique experience. Glen's infectious optimism and unwavering resolve prove that the greatest lessons learned in combat boots are the ones that lead to success in business suits. Find Glen at: https://www.ams.group/ And check out AMS Groups win at 2023 Prime Minister Defence Awards here: https://www.veteransemployment.gov.au/winners-finalists/ams-group Video Timestamps: 00:00:17 - Welcome: Introducing Glen Marshall, CEO of AMS Group 00:01:40 - AMS Group: The Meaningful Quotient (MQ) and Mission-Critical Work 00:04:36 - Origins: From Blacktown to the Army Reserve & Finding the Brotherhood 00:08:29 - Joining Duntrune: Playing the Game & Becoming an Officer at 17 00:12:04 - Artillery & Joint Fires: Leading Troops in the Deep End at Age 19 00:15:31 - Learning from Failure: Identifying Small Areas for Success 00:17:16 - The Unexpected Twist: Becoming Relevant as an Artillery Captain 00:20:00 - Cosgrove's Command: Working for a Soldier's General 00:23:14 - East Timor Repatriation: Lowering the Temperature on the Ground 00:25:27 - Property Portfolio: The Foundation for Future Life Choices 00:28:11 - The Big Decision: Turning Down Promotion for Entrepreneurship 00:30:19 - Business Development: Using Military Skills to Win Government Tenders 00:38:33 - Running Flick Pest Control: Gaining Business Strategy Outside the ADF 00:41:07 - The Pivot: Funding a Water Treatment Business by Selling Property 00:47:20 - Running a Radiology Business: Making Money in Six Weeks 00:50:48 - Becoming CEO of AMS Group: The Strategic Takeover 00:54:16 - Doubling the Business: Fighting Bureaucracy and Setting Audacious Goals 00:56:02 - The Perfect Avatar: Attitude and Flexibility Over Position Description 00:58:20 - Creating Purpose: Training Unskilled Locals & The Stradbroke Island Commitment