WEBVTT
00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:23.519
I'm now going to hand over to Gillian Doherty, our chief commercial officer.
00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:30.079
Our theme this month at Strathclyde is all about mental health and well-being at work.
00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:43.439
And Jillian's going to share a few insights about being passionate and looking at perspective and perseverance and how that can influenced her on her journey and how it can help you go forward.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:44.560
Over to you, Jennifer.
00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:46.079
Thank you very much, Janice.
00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.079
Good evening or good afternoon.
00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:49.439
How are we all doing?
00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:51.359
Excellent.
00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:52.880
Fantastic.
00:00:53.759 --> 00:01:09.439
Well, when Janice and the team invited me along to welcome you tonight and to share some thoughts, I jumped at the chance because I'm really inspired by what everyone in this room does, what you do, what drives you through challenging times.
00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:16.480
And Janice asked me to share a little bit about my perspective, and I'd love to do that over the next few minutes.
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:27.439
So rewinding for a good number of years ago, more than I care to remember, I grew up about 10 miles that way in a place called View Park.
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:32.719
It's in the, for those that know SIND, it's in the 0 to 10 bracket.
00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:34.560
It's pretty working class.
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:44.319
My dad was a welder and my mum was a cleaner, and I was the eldest of three children, and no one in my family had ever gone to university before.
00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:50.239
And I'll share a story about the night before my maths over not the best preparation.
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.640
And I was quite studious at school.
00:01:52.799 --> 00:02:03.680
Some might call me a V SWAT, or that's what we did in Bellsilla, and when you were any good at and you used to hide your intelligence, or if you were any good at something, you wouldn't pick your hand up.
00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:04.879
And that's what it was.
00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:13.360
And the night before my maths over, my mum and I had a humongous round and talking tears and tantrums, and that was just my mum.
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:25.439
And you see, we were arguing about my future, and she said, uh, and I said, Mum, I need to tell you that I'm going to leave school and become a ski instructor in the winter and a car instructor in the summer.
00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:31.919
And as mums in the West Coast of Scotland often said, over my dead body of you going to do those things.
00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:33.599
You're going to university.
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.520
You'll be the first in the family to do so, and that's what you're going to do.
00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:41.120
Needless to say, at three in the morning, we both finally get to bed.
00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.039
As I say, not the best preparation before your math so level.
00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.400
And as mums often are, she was right.
00:02:48.800 --> 00:03:08.400
And off I went to do a computer science degree for a finished school and managed to join IBM as part of the milk route, and spent 22 years with IBM from the dial-up mode down here and pagers right through to artificial intelligence and connected smart cities, all the way through that journey.
00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:15.919
I was very, very fortunate because often you'll be told to follow your dreams.
00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.800
And as a 15-year-old, I thought my dream was to become a ski instructor and a kayak instructor.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:27.919
And I was lucky IBM gave me a year sabbatical, and I went off round the world skiing and kayaking and after.
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.520
Because that's what I thought I wanted.
00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:51.439
And I was very fortunate enough to have a career that allowed me to go and test that later.
00:03:52.319 --> 00:04:01.439
So after a long 22 years at IBM, I got approached to become the first CEO of the data lab, an innovation centre that was just being set up.
00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:10.800
I remember receiving the email from the recruiter on the Friday afternoon, and it was just before Christmas and filed it away.
00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:14.960
It was year-end, we were closing deals, it was very busy.
00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:39.040
And it something happened at IBM that meant I called the recruiter on the day before it closed or the weekend before it closed.
00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:44.879
And as a good recruiter, she refused to get off the phone unless I agreed to a plan.
00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.920
Because I went on to say, I don't think it's me.
00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:52.560
I'm looking at this list of skills you need, and I don't think it's me.
00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.879
She says, forget that, forget the job description.
00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:55.680
Tell me about you.
00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:56.639
What do you do?
00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:58.319
What motivates you?
00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.360
What drives you?
00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.079
What's your passion?
00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:07.439
And I just talked about what I did and a little bit more about me, and that's when she refused to get off the phone unless I applied.
00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:13.920
So over the weekend, I had to write my first CD in 22 years, my first covering letter in 22 years.
00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:14.879
And what did I do?
00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:21.680
I phoned a friend, I phoned a couple of really trusty colleagues that I had to say, I'm going to do this.
00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:23.519
Can you help me over the weekend?
00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:24.639
Can you critique it?
00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:29.360
Because I've not done this for years and years and years, and I know I'm not going to get it right.
00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:34.240
And they both colleagues and friends rolled their sleeves up and helped me over the weekend.
00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:46.639
And then I applied, and the rest of history, I was very fortunate to work at the data lab and be their steward, almost the CEO, for over seven years before joining Strathclyde last year.
00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.199
Now you might wonder, yeah, but you haven't started your own thing, Jimmy.
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:58.639
Well, my husband has, and he runs his own uh specialist outdoor lighting company.
00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:15.920
And let's just say I'm his unpaid, but supportive partner who gets lots of jobs to do, no thanks, no shares, and supported him through that entrepreneurial journey almost like a co-founder in all but title and liberation.
00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:19.120
Um so different perspectives.
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:29.279
So thinking about passion, perspective, and perseverance, I thought it was just worth sharing that little journey with you in the context of some things I'm going to share.
00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:36.160
So, passion, I would really encourage you to do something you truly believe in, something that motivates you.
00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.839
Those cold, dark, damp mornings when you need to get up and you're going through tough times.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:46.720
If you're really passionate about what you do, it'll be so much, much easier.
00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:49.680
So, you know, I'm going to throw out lots of cliches.
00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:51.439
Sometimes the oldies are the goodies.
00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:55.040
Life is too short to do something you're not passionate about.
00:06:55.199 --> 00:07:00.399
So please, whatever you do in life, be passionate about what you're trying to do.
00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:04.160
Be creative and curious as young children.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:10.240
We're very creative and curious, and unfortunately, it just gets knocked out of you.
00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.160
So I would encourage you, always, always be creative and curious.
00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.720
Don't lose lose the four-year-old you.
00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:24.879
And as anyone that's had a toddler, ask why, why, why, why, and why again.
00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:29.360
So I'd encourage you, grasp and hold on to the inner four-year-old.
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.279
Keep asking the whys.
00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:43.759
Solve problems that matter, matter to you as an individual, matter to the organisation you work in or for, to your city, your region, your country, to the world.
00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:53.439
Solve problems that matter, and that will help you with the passion and the drive and the perseverance that will get you through in those tougher times.
00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:59.920
So passion, I think, is critically important, and life absolutely is too short.
00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.240
Perspective.
00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:15.519
So I'm going back to a very young me in IBM, and I did something that I was distraught about and really upset, had worked on something for a long time and I made a mistake.
00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.040
And I was invited.
00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:27.279
And a wonderful reader at the time shared the most fantastic piece of advice that I've held on to ever since is this too shall pass.
00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:36.639
Because when you're in it and you're deep, deep in it, sometimes that's really hard to get a perspective on the bigger picture.
00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:41.600
And holding and grasping on to that, this too shall pass.
00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:46.480
I've found it really, really supportive over the years.
00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:58.879
And also surround yourself by good people, people you trust, people who will support you but challenge you, people who will give you motivation, people who will pick you up when times are tough.
00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:07.200
Surrounding yourself by good people, friends, family, colleagues, partners, they'll come from all walks of life.
00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:14.240
You've come across them in different guises, but surround yourself by really, really supportive people.
00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:17.279
Teamwork.
00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.080
Life's not a solo sport.
00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.879
Work is certainly not a solo sport.
00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:32.240
So the importance of teams, and particularly for our entrepreneurs who are building teams, really, really think about that teamwork.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:40.240
Because it's diverse, curious, creative, and brave teams that are innovating and inventing around the world right now.
00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:46.399
And to be really successful, you will need that team around you to do that.
00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:50.720
So embrace teamwork, throw yourself into it.
00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:58.960
Perseverance, resilience, probably a really, really hard thing.
00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:06.559
No matter what you do in life, personally and professionally, things are not going to go your way sometimes.
00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:10.480
Something you'd hoped and dreamed of is not going to happen.
00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:18.879
So you need to be prepared for that and build your resilience capability, picking yourself up again and again and again.
00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:24.159
Ignore the naysayers, the people that tell you you can't, that's not for you.
00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:31.120
So be bold and brave and pick yourself up and go again.
00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:36.399
And beyond the day job, perseverance and resilience is really, really important.
00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:55.200
And as you're building those teams, think about the environment you're creating for your colleagues and the environment that they work in that helps them build resilience and helps them be open and honest and the most constructive and supportive and contributing member of your team.
00:10:55.440 --> 00:11:01.679
Think of the environment you're creating, the permission to bring your whole self to work.
00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:05.120
The goods and the bad, the good days, the horrible days.
00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:10.799
Think about how you communicate with your team so that it's okay not to be yoke.
00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:16.559
And creating the environment that allows the people you work with to bring that.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.320
So communicating that.
00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.279
And if you can create that environment, guess what?
00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:23.279
Your team are going to be super motivated.
00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.879
They're going to understand where you're going.
00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:26.159
Why are you going there?
00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:28.240
Because you're solving problems that matter.
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.919
You're creating an opportunity for them to do something they're passionate about.
00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:36.080
And you're creating an environment for them to be the best that they can be.
00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.679
So empowering your team is really, really important.
00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:45.679
But resilience is a funny thing because you've got to look after yourself before you can look after others.
00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.320
Another cheesy one-liner from the plane.
00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:51.200
Put on your life jacket.
00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:54.799
Exactly.
00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.720
Why do you put on your auction mask first?
00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.080
Because you're no good to help the person next to you if you're already gone.
00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.120
Yeah.
00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.600
I was reading a great crying novel this weekend and it was all kicking off.
00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.840
Somebody was racing into Burning Inferno and it's like, stop.
00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.960
You can't save them and you're dead.
00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.240
So think about it.
00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:15.919
Put your auction mask on first.
00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.559
Look after yourself, whatever that may mean.
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:33.679
And each one of us has different personal things that help us build resilience, whether it's going for a run, whether it's surrounding yourself with family, whether it's volunteering, whether it's taking yourself off for a quiet moment to build your energy reserves up.
00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:41.120
Think about what helps you build your resilience and helps you put your oxygen mask on.
00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:49.360
And then think about your team because they will all have different things that helps them be resilient and persevere through tough times.
00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:59.600
So think about giving them the space to do that, whether it is exercise or support or social or quiet times.
00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:07.919
So I'd really encourage you to have a think and understand that your team, what motivates them, and where they get their inner strength from.
00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:10.320
Adaptability, be comfortable with change.
00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:12.000
I'm not going to make you many promises today.
00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:18.879
I'm not going to promise you'll run a billion-dollar company, but I'll promise you one thing: it's change.
00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:21.600
Change is absolutely constant.
00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.600
The pace of technology and innovation is rising.
00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.919
You know that as well as I do.
00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:33.120
Today is the slowest day that will ever be again, because tomorrow it'll be faster.
00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.440
And the day after it will be even faster.
00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:39.279
So you need to be able to adapt that constant rate of change.
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.799
So be adaptable.
00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:43.840
But to be adaptable, you need to always be learning.
00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:52.960
You need to always be testing yourself, learning, whether that's in the organization, in the market you're going after, the product you're developing, uh, or the teams you work in.
00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.279
So it's always, always be learning.
00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:58.879
So I'm going to close with some short things.
00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.320
If you forget everything else I've told you, be bold.
00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.360
Yeah.
00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.639
Be brave.
00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.759
Be bonkers.
00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:06.960
Yep, bonkers.
00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:12.399
Steve Jobs once said, it's the people who think we can change the world that actually will.
00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.480
So be a little bit bonkers.
00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.440
But my final thing is be kind.
00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:22.480
Be kind to yourself, be kind to your people, your teams.
00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:29.200
If you think about you know uh the colleagues you work in, we've all got being a good cat call.
00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.519
Yeah, be kind and consider it.
00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:41.440
And that means being a really good human being, first and foremost, and I hope for you all successful coming.
00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.600
So, listen, thank you so much for listening.
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:46.320
I hope we're going to have a wonderful uh evening.
00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.799
I'm really looking forward to seeing the presentations.
00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.919
Thank you very much.
00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:54.000
And that's it for this episode of Inspiring Conversations.
00:14:54.080 --> 00:15:03.679
Uh, please remember to subscribe through whatever platform you use, or check out our social media and find us on the University of Strathbide website.
00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.879
Thank you very much.
00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:23.519
I'm now going to hand over to Gillian Doherty, our chief commercial officer.
00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:30.079
Our theme this month at Strathclyde is all about mental health and well-being at work.
00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:43.439
And Jillian's going to share a few insights about being passionate and looking at perspective and perseverance and how that can influenced her on her journey and how it can help you go forward.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:44.560
Over to you, Jennifer.
00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:46.079
Thank you very much, Janice.
00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.079
Good evening or good afternoon.
00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:49.439
How are we all doing?
00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:51.359
Excellent.
00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:52.880
Fantastic.
00:00:53.759 --> 00:01:09.439
Well, when Janice and the team invited me along to welcome you tonight and to share some thoughts, I jumped at the chance because I'm really inspired by what everyone in this room does, what you do, what drives you through challenging times.
00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:16.480
And Janice asked me to share a little bit about my perspective, and I'd love to do that over the next few minutes.
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:27.439
So rewinding for a good number of years ago, more than I care to remember, I grew up about 10 miles that way in a place called View Park.
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:32.719
It's in the, for those that know SIND, it's in the 0 to 10 bracket.
00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:34.560
It's pretty working class.
00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:44.319
My dad was a welder and my mum was a cleaner, and I was the eldest of three children, and no one in my family had ever gone to university before.
00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:50.239
And I'll share a story about the night before my maths over not the best preparation.
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.640
And I was quite studious at school.
00:01:52.799 --> 00:02:03.680
Some might call me a V SWAT, or that's what we did in Bellsilla, and when you were any good at and you used to hide your intelligence, or if you were any good at something, you wouldn't pick your hand up.
00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:04.879
And that's what it was.
00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:13.360
And the night before my maths over, my mum and I had a humongous round and talking tears and tantrums, and that was just my mum.
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:25.439
And you see, we were arguing about my future, and she said, uh, and I said, Mum, I need to tell you that I'm going to leave school and become a ski instructor in the winter and a car instructor in the summer.
00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:31.919
And as mums in the West Coast of Scotland often said, over my dead body of you going to do those things.
00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:33.599
You're going to university.
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.520
You'll be the first in the family to do so, and that's what you're going to do.
00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:41.120
Needless to say, at three in the morning, we both finally get to bed.
00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.039
As I say, not the best preparation before your math so level.
00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.400
And as mums often are, she was right.
00:02:48.800 --> 00:03:08.400
And off I went to do a computer science degree for a finished school and managed to join IBM as part of the milk route, and spent 22 years with IBM from the dial-up mode down here and pagers right through to artificial intelligence and connected smart cities, all the way through that journey.
00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:15.919
I was very, very fortunate because often you'll be told to follow your dreams.
00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.800
And as a 15-year-old, I thought my dream was to become a ski instructor and a kayak instructor.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:27.919
And I was lucky IBM gave me a year sabbatical, and I went off round the world skiing and kayaking and after.
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.520
Because that's what I thought I wanted.
00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:51.439
And I was very fortunate enough to have a career that allowed me to go and test that later.
00:03:52.319 --> 00:04:01.439
So after a long 22 years at IBM, I got approached to become the first CEO of the data lab, an innovation centre that was just being set up.
00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:10.800
I remember receiving the email from the recruiter on the Friday afternoon, and it was just before Christmas and filed it away.
00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:14.960
It was year-end, we were closing deals, it was very busy.
00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:39.040
And it something happened at IBM that meant I called the recruiter on the day before it closed or the weekend before it closed.
00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:44.879
And as a good recruiter, she refused to get off the phone unless I agreed to a plan.
00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.920
Because I went on to say, I don't think it's me.
00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:52.560
I'm looking at this list of skills you need, and I don't think it's me.
00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.879
She says, forget that, forget the job description.
00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:55.680
Tell me about you.
00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:56.639
What do you do?
00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:58.319
What motivates you?
00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.360
What drives you?
00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.079
What's your passion?
00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:07.439
And I just talked about what I did and a little bit more about me, and that's when she refused to get off the phone unless I applied.
00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:13.920
So over the weekend, I had to write my first CD in 22 years, my first covering letter in 22 years.
00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:14.879
And what did I do?
00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:21.680
I phoned a friend, I phoned a couple of really trusty colleagues that I had to say, I'm going to do this.
00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:23.519
Can you help me over the weekend?
00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:24.639
Can you critique it?
00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:29.360
Because I've not done this for years and years and years, and I know I'm not going to get it right.
00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:34.240
And they both colleagues and friends rolled their sleeves up and helped me over the weekend.
00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:46.639
And then I applied, and the rest of history, I was very fortunate to work at the data lab and be their steward, almost the CEO, for over seven years before joining Strathclyde last year.
00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.199
Now you might wonder, yeah, but you haven't started your own thing, Jimmy.
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:58.639
Well, my husband has, and he runs his own uh specialist outdoor lighting company.
00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:15.920
And let's just say I'm his unpaid, but supportive partner who gets lots of jobs to do, no thanks, no shares, and supported him through that entrepreneurial journey almost like a co-founder in all but title and liberation.
00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:19.120
Um so different perspectives.
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:29.279
So thinking about passion, perspective, and perseverance, I thought it was just worth sharing that little journey with you in the context of some things I'm going to share.
00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:36.160
So, passion, I would really encourage you to do something you truly believe in, something that motivates you.
00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.839
Those cold, dark, damp mornings when you need to get up and you're going through tough times.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:46.720
If you're really passionate about what you do, it'll be so much, much easier.
00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:49.680
So, you know, I'm going to throw out lots of cliches.
00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:51.439
Sometimes the oldies are the goodies.
00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:55.040
Life is too short to do something you're not passionate about.
00:06:55.199 --> 00:07:00.399
So please, whatever you do in life, be passionate about what you're trying to do.
00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:04.160
Be creative and curious as young children.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:10.240
We're very creative and curious, and unfortunately, it just gets knocked out of you.
00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.160
So I would encourage you, always, always be creative and curious.
00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.720
Don't lose lose the four-year-old you.
00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:24.879
And as anyone that's had a toddler, ask why, why, why, why, and why again.
00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:29.360
So I'd encourage you, grasp and hold on to the inner four-year-old.
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.279
Keep asking the whys.
00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:43.759
Solve problems that matter, matter to you as an individual, matter to the organisation you work in or for, to your city, your region, your country, to the world.
00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:53.439
Solve problems that matter, and that will help you with the passion and the drive and the perseverance that will get you through in those tougher times.
00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:59.920
So passion, I think, is critically important, and life absolutely is too short.
00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:02.240
Perspective.
00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:15.519
So I'm going back to a very young me in IBM, and I did something that I was distraught about and really upset, had worked on something for a long time and I made a mistake.
00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.040
And I was invited.
00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:27.279
And a wonderful reader at the time shared the most fantastic piece of advice that I've held on to ever since is this too shall pass.
00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:36.639
Because when you're in it and you're deep, deep in it, sometimes that's really hard to get a perspective on the bigger picture.
00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:41.600
And holding and grasping on to that, this too shall pass.
00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:46.480
I've found it really, really supportive over the years.
00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:58.879
And also surround yourself by good people, people you trust, people who will support you but challenge you, people who will give you motivation, people who will pick you up when times are tough.
00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:07.200
Surrounding yourself by good people, friends, family, colleagues, partners, they'll come from all walks of life.
00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:14.240
You've come across them in different guises, but surround yourself by really, really supportive people.
00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:17.279
Teamwork.
00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.080
Life's not a solo sport.
00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.879
Work is certainly not a solo sport.
00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:32.240
So the importance of teams, and particularly for our entrepreneurs who are building teams, really, really think about that teamwork.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:40.240
Because it's diverse, curious, creative, and brave teams that are innovating and inventing around the world right now.
00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:46.399
And to be really successful, you will need that team around you to do that.
00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:50.720
So embrace teamwork, throw yourself into it.
00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:58.960
Perseverance, resilience, probably a really, really hard thing.
00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:06.559
No matter what you do in life, personally and professionally, things are not going to go your way sometimes.
00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:10.480
Something you'd hoped and dreamed of is not going to happen.
00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:18.879
So you need to be prepared for that and build your resilience capability, picking yourself up again and again and again.
00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:24.159
Ignore the naysayers, the people that tell you you can't, that's not for you.
00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:31.120
So be bold and brave and pick yourself up and go again.
00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:36.399
And beyond the day job, perseverance and resilience is really, really important.
00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:55.200
And as you're building those teams, think about the environment you're creating for your colleagues and the environment that they work in that helps them build resilience and helps them be open and honest and the most constructive and supportive and contributing member of your team.
00:10:55.440 --> 00:11:01.679
Think of the environment you're creating, the permission to bring your whole self to work.
00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:05.120
The goods and the bad, the good days, the horrible days.
00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:10.799
Think about how you communicate with your team so that it's okay not to be yoke.
00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:16.559
And creating the environment that allows the people you work with to bring that.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.320
So communicating that.
00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.279
And if you can create that environment, guess what?
00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:23.279
Your team are going to be super motivated.
00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.879
They're going to understand where you're going.
00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:26.159
Why are you going there?
00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:28.240
Because you're solving problems that matter.
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.919
You're creating an opportunity for them to do something they're passionate about.
00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:36.080
And you're creating an environment for them to be the best that they can be.
00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.679
So empowering your team is really, really important.
00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:45.679
But resilience is a funny thing because you've got to look after yourself before you can look after others.
00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.320
Another cheesy one-liner from the plane.
00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:51.200
Put on your life jacket.
00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:54.799
Exactly.
00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.720
Why do you put on your auction mask first?
00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.080
Because you're no good to help the person next to you if you're already gone.
00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.120
Yeah.
00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.600
I was reading a great crying novel this weekend and it was all kicking off.
00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.840
Somebody was racing into Burning Inferno and it's like, stop.
00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.960
You can't save them and you're dead.
00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.240
So think about it.
00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:15.919
Put your auction mask on first.
00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.559
Look after yourself, whatever that may mean.
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:33.679
And each one of us has different personal things that help us build resilience, whether it's going for a run, whether it's surrounding yourself with family, whether it's volunteering, whether it's taking yourself off for a quiet moment to build your energy reserves up.
00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:41.120
Think about what helps you build your resilience and helps you put your oxygen mask on.
00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:49.360
And then think about your team because they will all have different things that helps them be resilient and persevere through tough times.
00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:59.600
So think about giving them the space to do that, whether it is exercise or support or social or quiet times.
00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:07.919
So I'd really encourage you to have a think and understand that your team, what motivates them, and where they get their inner strength from.
00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:10.320
Adaptability, be comfortable with change.
00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:12.000
I'm not going to make you many promises today.
00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:18.879
I'm not going to promise you'll run a billion-dollar company, but I'll promise you one thing: it's change.
00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:21.600
Change is absolutely constant.
00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.600
The pace of technology and innovation is rising.
00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.919
You know that as well as I do.
00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:33.120
Today is the slowest day that will ever be again, because tomorrow it'll be faster.
00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.440
And the day after it will be even faster.
00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:39.279
So you need to be able to adapt that constant rate of change.
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.799
So be adaptable.
00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:43.840
But to be adaptable, you need to always be learning.
00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:52.960
You need to always be testing yourself, learning, whether that's in the organization, in the market you're going after, the product you're developing, uh, or the teams you work in.
00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.279
So it's always, always be learning.
00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:58.879
So I'm going to close with some short things.
00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.320
If you forget everything else I've told you, be bold.
00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.360
Yeah.
00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.639
Be brave.
00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.759
Be bonkers.
00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:06.960
Yep, bonkers.
00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:12.399
Steve Jobs once said, it's the people who think we can change the world that actually will.
00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.480
So be a little bit bonkers.
00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.440
But my final thing is be kind.
00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:22.480
Be kind to yourself, be kind to your people, your teams.
00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:29.200
If you think about you know uh the colleagues you work in, we've all got being a good cat call.
00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.519
Yeah, be kind and consider it.
00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:41.440
And that means being a really good human being, first and foremost, and I hope for you all successful coming.
00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.600
So, listen, thank you so much for listening.
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:46.320
I hope we're going to have a wonderful uh evening.
00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.799
I'm really looking forward to seeing the presentations.
00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.919
Thank you very much.
00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:54.000
And that's it for this episode of Inspiring Conversations.
00:14:54.080 --> 00:15:03.679
Uh, please remember to subscribe through whatever platform you use, or check out our social media and find us on the University of Strathbide website.
00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.879
Thank you very much.
