Patrick McGimpsey: alumni profile

You graduated in 2019, what have the last few years held for you?

My plan was to take a gap year traveling in South America, but Covid-19 quickly derailed those plans. I kept my job at the local butcher shop, where I'd been working for six years, until the first round of lockdown was over. I then got a chance to work for a finance company as a fraud and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) officer because of the rise in online scams due to the pandemic.

I found a big problem when I started the job – the company was losing a lot of money to crypto related fraud and scams. I recognised the opportunity and put together a training session for my team about these scams and how to spot them. This training drastically lowered the number of cases slipping through the cracks and was noticed quickly by senior management. Later, I delivered this training to other teams across the business and even some senior management at the company.

An Australian start-up called CryptoTaxCalculator noticed my work and hired me to work on the complex problem of crypto taxes. I started in a fluid role across support and product when there were only 10 people in the company, there are now almost 40 in the team and I have taken on the role of Product Marketing Manager. In this role I get to travel all over the world while working and regularly attend and speak at conferences across Australia, Europe and the U.S.

Deep crypto knowledge and experience in the Web3 industry is extremely scarce and in demand, so these skills have really helped me in my career. To further my career and share knowledge with others, I started writing for several large publications in Australia. Currently, I'm the lead crypto writer for Forbes Advisor Australia. I also help other Web3 companies, advising them on their content and strategy.

I've managed to turn my love for the ocean into another job as a certified freediving instructor. Freediving helps me relax and disconnect from my busy life, and I love introducing others to the sport and coaching them on their journey.

While I'm doing all of this, I'm also studying Economics and Computer Science part-time at the University of Sydney. I've realised though, that when it comes to crypto, being passionate and learning on your own can be more important than a degree. As a result, while I am still pursuing my studies, I no longer view my degree as the pivotal element of my professional success.

What CCGS experience or achievement most prepared you for where you are today?

During my time at CCGS, I seized every opportunity presented to me. From playing rugby and visiting the Aboriginal community in Nganmarriyanga, to travelling to Cambodia and Vietnam, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and serving as Head Prefect; I embraced a plethora of experiences. Despite a busy schedule, I consistently made time for my passions outside of school. 

This experience of balancing various responsibilities and opportunities helped develop a well-rounded worldview and a capacity to manage multiple tasks effectively. It prepared me to cut through the noise in any situation and remain focused on what truly matters. When you take a second to reflect, you’ll quickly realise that the ‘loudest’ thing in your life is likely not the most important.

This experience and consequent mindset has been instrumental in navigating my career and life after school and it continues to contribute to my ability to enjoy the life I lead.

What is your proudest moment from your post-school life?

One of my proudest moments was landing the job at CryptoTaxCalculator. This was a major turning point for me, as it marked the moment where I transitioned from simply being passionate about crypto to actually working within the Web3 industry. It wasn't just about securing a job, but about stepping into a role in a field that I deeply care about and look forward to contributing to each day. It felt like I had finally achieved a goal of aligning my career with my passion.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your high school self?

Don't fear the road less travelled. Society may push you towards 'safe' and conventional careers, but I’ve found that with persistence and passion, you can turn any interest into a successful career - be it a cutting-edge sector like Web3 or a physical pursuit such as freediving.

Follow your passions, not just societal norms or expectations. You are the architect of your own story. Go all-in on what you love and be the best at it. Remember, you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love - that's a nugget of wisdom from Jim Carrey.