Last Wednesday I attended, along with 300 others, a leadership forum at the Opera House. The speakers were Sir Stephen Tindall, from the Warehouse and Rod Drury from Xero. They both gave the audience valuable insight into their ideas of successful leadership in their own business experience. Stephen listed the following important points; firstly the importance of mutual respect from everyone in the work team. Something he practises in all experiences in his life. He also suggested everyone must have a vision for what they want in their life. He finally said you must have the right people in your work team for success and have large ears and a small mouth! Listen well and don’t talk too much!

Rod Drury has moved back to Hawkes Bay for the lifestyle and to let his children experience the great childhood he had as a child in Hawkes Bay. Both leaders suggested all new Zealanders should go overseas every five years so they can appreciate how wonderful NZ is! I asked them to give one piece of advice to pass on to my students, Stephen said  ”decide what you want to do in life and go and do it”, Rod said :Learn to type!”- spoken like a ICT expert! Both leaders read a huge amount, Rod saying he subscribes to 100 websites each week and both said leaders are not born, but made. The leadership forum is the second year the HDC has hosted a free event at the Opera House in winter, last year the theatre was packed out with 500 plus people who listened to Getrude Matshe, an amazing inspirational speaker.