In Episode 2, Matt sits down with Argot Ansons. From the mines of Western Australia to the tunnels under Sydney, Argot has seen it all, from four-tonne rocks dropping at his feet to running teams of hundreds under pressure.
In this episode, we go deep on what real leadership looks like when things get tough. We talk about pushing back against the boss to do what’s right, finding momentum on projects, and why every manager, from grad to director, is really a “king gopher” serving the people who actually build it.
It’s straight talk from one of the most respected names in infrastructure. No fluff, no buzzwords, just Full Send lessons on people, purpose, and pressure.
Additional Resources
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Connect with Argot
Email Matt: Matt@fullsendengineering.com
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Timestamps
[00:00:00] Intro: Who Is Argot
- Matt introduces Argot and sets the tone
[00:01:00] Early Adventures and Confidence
- How travel shaped his confidence
- Learning to adapt and lead
[00:05:00] Becoming a Gopher Underground
- Working as a miner before becoming an engineer
- A near miss that shaped his approach to safety
[00:12:00] Leadership Under Pressure
- Staying in the detail
- How pressure exposes a team’s structure
[00:18:00] Mechanical Scaling
- The dangerous practice he fought to change
- Resistance from the old guard
- How the change saved lives
[00:23:00] Supported Ground
- Why it became non negotiable
- Bringing mining safety into tunnelling
[00:26:00] Mining to Civil Transition
- Precision requirements
- Tolerances and quality
[00:31:00] High Performance Culture
- Culture as the multiplier
- The difference between 50 percent and 120 percent effort
[00:38:00] Clarity Beats Blame
- Resetting struggling teams
- Asking the right questions
[00:45:00] Working With Clients
- Transparency and trust
- Taking accountability
[00:49:00] Safety and Productivity
- Why alignment matters
- Team momentum
[00:55:00] Leadership Growth
- Learning from mistakes
- Getting involved early
[01:01:00] High Stakes Project Lessons
- Decision making in dangerous environments
[01:05:00] Advice for Young Engineers
- Ask questions
- Seek exposure
- Learn through doing
[01:09:00] Closing Thoughts
- What matters most in leadership
- Matt wraps up Episode 2
