S7E17 – Alistair Gordon

In this podcast episode of "Get Your Fill: Financial Independence and Long Life," host Christine McCarron interviews Alistair Gordon, founder and CEO of Expertunity (also associated with the Expertship Institute) and author of the book Master Expert. Gordon is a leading authority on subject matter experts (SMEs), who are highly specialized technical professionals—such as software engineers, IT specialists, data experts, or engineers—who possess deep domain knowledge that keeps organizations running smoothly but often remains invisible until something goes wrong. He estimates there are about 40 million SMEs worldwide, many of whom feel stuck in repetitive, mundane tasks after years of honing their technical skills, leading to frustration, underappreciation, and limited career growth. Christine, a former SME herself in software, shares relatable experiences of translating complex jargon between engineers and clients, highlighting how SMEs often get pigeonholed into narrow roles, over-rely on technical expertise, and struggle with communication due to heavy use of jargon.