With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1510895
Discover University Canada West at ucanwest.ca. @ucanwest @ucanwest @ucanwest @university_canada_west @ucanwest Created by Canada Wide Media in partnership with University Canada West it sounds, but nevertheless, without a team, it's quite difficult to move forward working by yourself. When navigating something out of the ordinary, you must find creative, innovative responses to the perceived problem. And the best way is not always thinking radically; but while you are trying to resolve issues and problems, it helps to think optimistically. Move with optimism and ambition and take people with you. People feel much more inclined to join you if you have an ambitious strategy—a clear plan that sounds logical but has something to celebrate at the end so people will be happy to push forward. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST LEADERSHIP LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS? Don't sit back and watch, take initiative, take some risks, think creatively and explore other avenues. You must think outside the box—generate new ideas that are genuinely new. When I joined UCA, almost from the first week, I started planning for a business school within the university for the creative industries. It became the only business school of its kind in Europe and a dis- tinguishing feature of the university. I also learned that while you can't work in isolation, to succeed you must have a single-minded approach combined with the ability to persuade your team to go along with you. YOU HAVE SAID THAT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY ABROAD OPENED DOORS YOU ARE STILL WALKING THROUGH TODAY. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ASPIRING LEADERS? My advice is to always be aware of your decision- making processes. Make the right decisions while taking calculated risks. And don't be afraid to take over where someone else has already failed. Be positive, consistent and persistent. You must be human, as well. Value the human element around you and value the human intelligence spirit around you. Read the room. Hear others without them speaking. '' It is my honor to be UCW's new president. I share the university's commitment to providing high-quality education and fostering a vibrant campus community. UCW is an institution with solid foundations: a dedicated staff, an entrepreneurial faculty, a deeply diverse student body and an exceptional campus in the heart of a great city—all the essential ingredients for an extraordinary learning experience."