Testimonials

Heather Rivett - Team Manager, Southern Region, Injury Prevention, ACC

Heather Rivett is already applying what she has learned from Otago’s Executive Education Programme in her role as a Team Manager, a Southern Region, Injury Prevention for ACC.

“In my Competitive Strategy course,” she says, “we looked at the dynamics and benefits from moving from a goods and services model to a customer orientated focus. Since then, at ACC, we’ve implemented a similar initiative in my group and the results have been extremely well received by people both within and outside the organisation. It has been a real charge to put the concepts we learned in the classroom into action.” “The Enhancing Leadership course has also proven to be helpful,” Heather continues. “Because we are placed in a team environment on the course, we were challenged to find common ground and build strong relationships. We learned about establishing shared values and how they can enhance team building.

In ACC, we are a distributed organisation and our teams are spread out. By applying the same techniques that I learned on the course into my job, I’ve been able to build a higher level of camaraderie amongst my colleagues.”

Supporting Heather has been a good investment for ACC. “They have been very supportive,” says Heather, “both financially and with time. But, just as importantly, they have been receptive to incorporating what I’ve learned into our operations. I’d like to think that we’ve all benefited from the programme.” The qualifications that Heather is working towards will be a big boost to her career. “I already have the skills and experience from more than 14 years with ACC,” notes Heather, “but I was lacking a formal qualification.
To continue to advance I needed to ensure that I had the necessary management training. The programme at Otago will give me exactly that.” The course work has also given Heather a strategic view of how organisations work. “By interacting with others on the course I’ve been able to compare and contrast different operating styles,” concludes Heather. “Combined with the written exercises and classroom activities, I’ve been able to gain a broader perspective of management and leadership.

This perspective has already improved my job performance and will continue to pay dividends for me and my organisation in the future.”

Wayne Holton-Jeffreys - Manager Passenger Services, Environment Canterbury

Otago’s Executive Education Programme has helped Wayne Holton-Jeffreys improve his strategic thinking and given him a better insight into performance management.

“I’ve always been focussed on operations,” says Wayne, “and getting the job done. In my current role I’m responsible for the planning, implementation and administration of all subsidised public passenger transport in the Canterbury Region. But the same traits that have enabled me to move into a management role are not necessarily the same skills I would need as a manager. I realised that if I wanted to perform successfully at the management level I would have to increase my professional knowledge.”

Wayne left school at 15 and has worked his way up the corporate ladder. “I was somewhat apprehensive about attending a formal academic programme,” he says, “but the whole process has been extremely rewarding. It’s not been a breeze by any means. I’ve been challenged to think outside my comfort zone and have been forced to look at issues more objectively. This has been especially valuable in my role as a team leader as I can now understand different motivations and adjust my management style as appropriate.”

The format for Otago’s Executive Education Programme has worked well in Wayne’s case. “Staying at the Executive Residence enabled me to focus my mind 100% on the course through the week,” he says. “We’re very well looked after. And the wide range of participants attending each course provides valuable insight which stretches way beyond what is taught academically.”

Wayne would advise any prospective students to plan carefully and not rush the process. “Best to take at least two courses outside your area of expertise,” concludes Wayne, “as that will give you a much more comprehensive view. And don’t rush. The work is hard and you’ll be challenged. But the rewards are great and it’s a decision you won’t regret.”

Mark Silcock - Site Operations Manager, Holcim

Mark Silcock’s BSc in Chemistry and ten years in the environmental consulting industry in New Zealand and overseas had given him the technical experience to advance into a management role. Mark joined Holcim ( New Zealand) Ltd, a leading supplier of cement, aggregates, ready mixed concrete and lime, as a supervisor four years ago. Mark found that he faced new challenges that would require a different set of tools as he took on more responsibility for financial planning, human resources, supply chain management and more.

“I attended the Financial Decision-making Executive Course at Otago and really enjoyed the format,” says Mark. “It gave me new skills and the opportunity to meet people from around the country in similar situations. The intensive one-week-at-a-time schedule was actually easier for my family and me than a one-night a-week format. I could also schedule that week when most convenient for me. Plus I liked the idea of working towards a Diploma in Executive Management.”

The Executive Programme has given Mark a more strategic view of his company. “We discussed the benefits of a customer-centric model at every stage of the supply-chain in the classroom,” says Mark, “and I could see how that would help us at Holcim. As a result, we’ve started to build in more customer contact at each stage of a project. This has resulted in more accurate production forecasting, less wastage and tighter inventories.”

Mark has also gained insight to communications and values. “Not everyone has the same thought processes,” he says. “The Human Capital course challenged us to think about recruiting and retaining ‘generation y’ employees as we replace an aging workforce. And we examined topics such as aligning operations with strategy and risk identification and management. The Executive Education Courses have broadened my outlook and have been extremely beneficial to both myself and my company.”

Amanda Lockwood - Sales Manager for Hawkes Bay, Tararua, Wairapa, West Coast, Marlborough and Nelson, Farmers Mutual Group

Amanda Lockwood is a very logical and practical person. With more than 14 years of increasingly responsible roles within the insurance industry, mostly in sales, Amanda knows the mechanics of selling insurance. “Some of my colleagues attended the Otago Executive Education Courses,” explains Amanda, “and spoke very highly of it. They mentioned how it broadened their outlooks and gave them some academic theory to back up their experience.

So I approached my company about attending and they were very supportive.” “At first I was a bit unsure,” continues Amanda. “It was a lot of theory and I couldn’t see the point. But as I started to talk with the other students on my course and thought carefully about what we were learning, I realised that the content had more and more relevance to my job. Then, after finishing the week of intensive study, I found that the assignments really put the theory into context and I could see how to apply the theory to my own situation.

The courses have helped me strike a balance between theory and practicality.” The intensive week of study suited Amanda very well. “For a week we could concentrate on the material with no interruptions,” she says. “It enabled us to dig into the content and discuss it amongst ourselves. The whole process has helped me become more creative in my thinking and has given me a more strategic view of the business. And I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned and pass on some of the ideas to my staff.”

Reproduced with permission from Unlimited Magazine