28 March 2013 Prime Minister shares his thoughts with Lincoln University Business Management students

Today (28 March), the Prime Minister spoke from the heart to over 300 students and staff at Lincoln University about the leadership and management that will be needed to serve New Zealand well into the future.

The Prime Minister was invited to talk to the students, not as a part of any political agenda, but as the ‘Chairman of New Zealand Inc’. The majority of students were from the Bachelor of Commerce Management 101 course, embarking on their studies at Lincoln University. Their lecturer, Dr Anthony Brien, invited the Prime Minister to talk to them about ‘what New Zealand needs in its future managers and leaders to grow the New Zealand economy’. And the Prime Minister did not disappoint.

He began his speech reassuring the audience that New Zealand is in a good position to face what he interprets to be the two big factors likely to impact on the immediate future of New Zealand: Asian commerce, and the internet changing the way New Zealand business is now being conducted, giving the modern New Zealand a global reach. 

The Prime Minister also spoke about leadership management: ability and attitude being the most important aspects. He is a strong believer that you get from life what you have put into it, explaining to the students the influence his mother had on this. She imparted to him the wisdom of not worrying about what others think, and that hard work will be rewarded by success.

Although he was straight down to business, the Prime Minister also incorporated humour, showing his ability to relate to his audience of first year students. The students were encouraged to ask questions and these ranged from asking about the drought currently impacting New Zealand’s agriculture, to the Prime Minister’s views on the personal characteristics of leadership.

The Prime Minister brought his message home conveying to the audience that they were at the right university to help meet the growing demands globally around food production and related issues. His visit today was a memorable lecture for his audience.

Lincoln University invites guest lecturers to the Commerce Faculty to expose students to more than the theory of their degree course.  Real examples of success – and failures along the way – enable the students to see how their studies are applied in business, and also shows the students the human side of successful commerce.