Love of Life

Earlier this year when the Dean of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Business School, learned that I planned to considerably reduce my internationaltravel, he asked me to take the position of Executive in Residence, in the business school.

Having been on the university advisory board for seven years, I have watched the university’s phenomenal growth over the ten years since it became a university, to being the biggest business school in New Zealand after the University of Auckland.

I was familiar with it and loved the passion that the Faculty had for their students and the university and a can do attitude to get the job done, that I accepted the position, which I added to my other portfolios.
I recently attended the graduation of approximately 600 students being capped and receiving their degrees.  Sitting on the stage with the faculty, regaled in their splendor with their hats and gowns and me unadorned in my Saville Row suit.  I must have looked strange to the audience of students and parents, ‘who is he?’
As each student came up, I could feel their tremendous pride as they received their degree from the Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor.
It brought a lump to my chest, as I was filled with emotion, at being able to share this moment with them, and also be surrounded by the pride and passion of their teachers, who had contributed to their success.
Words flashed into my mind

‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life’

And I realised ‘life defining events’ were taking place inside these wonderful young people.
Outside, after the graduation was complete, graduates, parents and friends celebrated, ‘high on the joys of life’ and again I felt a strong emotion inside me to be able to share these moments, in this environment.
I have long held a belief that ‘the children are our future’, and as I stood amongst these graduates, loving and savoring the moment of their success, I felt blessed to have been afforded this opportunity.
I also trusted that amongst these students would eventually emerge future leaders, not just of industry, but of our country and who knows, maybe even the world.