Inspirational business: Auckland CEOs open their doors to host promising young leaders
More than 70 businesses and organisations across Auckland have today hosted two promising young leaders as part of the Auckland University of Technology’s Annual Shadow a Leader Day.
For one day each year, a school student and an AUT business or law student spend the day with a business manager or CEO of a local company to gain insights on effective leadership.
Today’s event began with a breakfast at AUT for all leaders and their students, where AUT alumni Adriana Christie, (co-owner Pallet Kingdom) delivered an inspiring keynote address.
This year’s students have taken part in a variety of business activities including media engagements, executive and board meetings, client discussions, brainstorms, networking functions and presentations. The day has also given students a rare insight into the realities of being a leader – such as striking the right balance between work and life.
Tony Falkenstein, CEO of Just Water International, said he was delighted to host two of this year’s students.
“If a young person has not been brought up in a business household, they see the business world like a foreign country. The AUT ‘Shadow a leader’ programme allows them to experience the business world, from the top, for a day, and they tend to find it is not so frightening, and often is a day that shapes their life forever”.
Anton Vera from AUT’s Business School spent the day with Tony and said: “Shadow a Leader will allow me to kick start my career by getting my foot in the door in some of New Zealand's biggest companies. The AUT initiative will put me face to face with veterans of the business industry and will present countless networking opportunities for future employment.”
Shadow a Leader is the AUT Business Faculty’s own Leadership Week initiative.