BOND BUSINESS REVIEW
#161
Hungry on a student budget: A guide to GC’s Best Restaurants How to Survive As an Entrepreneur Born out of Bond: Nick Pearce and the Success of BlackBoard
acknowledgements Publisher: Bond Business Students’ Association Editor in Chief: Rebecca Gillingham Editor at Large: Josh Lane Special Thanks: The Bond Business Review would not be the success it is without the dedication and support from our writers and editors. The BSA extends their immense thanks for their continued commitment and standard of work. Inquiries: bsa@student.bond.edu.au Future Advertising: amelia.esau@student.bond.edu.au
note from the editor Some of the best innovations and business ideas were thought of at the ungodly hour of 3am, where the sleep-deprived meet the dawn of creation, where anything seems possible in your dreams. If only we did something with those ideas... if only we took the ingenuity that comes with insomnia, and created something out of it - we would all be entrepreneurs. Nothing beats making your passion your paycheck, and this edition is designed to remind you that that the best view comes from the hardest climb; that without a goal, you can’t score; that if you don’t build your own dreams, someone will hire you to build theirs - deep and meaningful quotes aside, you did not wake up to be mediocre. So do something with that big beautiful brain of yours, create a legacy and do something worth living for. Rebecca Gillingham, Publications Director Bond University Business Students’ Association
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Contents 6 8 11 12 16
How to Survive as an Entrepreneur Breaking up the Big banks Kickstart A Venture
CLUEDO: Palaver 161 Student Profiles: NavDeep Parischa & Ashley Perkins Hungry on a student budget: A Guide to Gold COast Restuarants
Born out of Bond: Nick Pearce and the Success of Blackboard
6 Steps to a linkedIN Power Profile
Best Reads for the Young Entrepreneur
alice shaves for a cure
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EXECUTIVE REPORT The 2016 focus for the Business Students’ Association is laying solid foundations to afford future committees the freedom to build the association in any and all areas that culture shifts necessitate. The term has started strongly, with new initiatives being undertaken and old ones reinvented and built upon. Notable events that have been run so far in 161 include Palaver, the Public Speaking Competition and a new event that received exceptional reception: the Graduate Breakfast. As the first trimester of the draws closer to a close, it is important to look forward and plan for the future. Over the coming year we are looking to continue our focus on grassroots development, implementing more competitions, expanding major’s week involvement and continuing our focus on graduate corporate relations. An event of particular interest that we are supporting, that is still in preliminary stages, is a networking event for MBA students looking to transition into middle office, as opposed to the normal networking for undergraduate students focusing on graduate level entry positions. Only time will tell how the proposed plans are executed and what the cohort thinks about them, but if the time in office thus far is anything to go off, I’m certain the next nine months will be some of the most prosperous for the students of the Bond Business School. Josh Lane, President, Bond University Business Students’ Association
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new office “Right beside the Business School Reception” - Building 3, Level 2
TREASURER’S REPORT Following handover in November 2015, the Bond University Business Students’ Association (BSA) has taken deliberate steps to improve the financial position of the Association. Taking over the BSA, the Association had outstanding’s exceeding funds available, not a reflection on the past committee, but rather a trend in the financial position of the BSA for multiple years. A concerted effort to revamp the BSA’s premier event, Palaver, was spearheaded by Josh Lane, Jeremy Butcher and Alice Ringelstein; not to dismiss that it was truly a collaborative effort. Our flagship event was a success, both financially and socially. We would like to thank everyone who attended. An initiative courtesy of Amelia Esau (Corporate Relations Director) saw the introduction of Survival Study Kits, which were a 100% funded by local firms that Amelia had sourced. An excellent initiative that was very well received and certainly set to repeat. Credit goes to Amelia and her skillset in getting so much complementary sponsorship. Amelia also spearheaded The Graduate Breakfast with great success. While the committee made a loss, we believe the student value it provided doesn’t have a price tag. The BSA has great confidence the event can become a staple, semesterly event. The Business Students’ Association is certainly moving in the right direction financially, obtaining over 70% of requested funding from BUSA and maintaining positive relationships with every party that we work with. Christian Whitfield Treasurer, Bond University Business Students’ Association 5
“YOU CAN’T USE UP CREATIVITY. THE MORE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU HAVE” - MAYA ANGELOU
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If you have any entrepreneurial tendencies, you probably know by now that the path you’ve chosen comes with a unique set of challenges and rewards. Most entrepreneurs tend to be strong-willed, driven and self-motivating. Most also tend to be single-minded, anti-authority and workaholics! If you recognize yourself in these words, fear not, there is hope and help along the way to international fame and fortune! According to a report by Australia’s Office of the Chief Scientist, fostering innovation and providing students the tools, the opportunities and the support to embrace entrepreneurialism is the way to ensure Australia’s business future, particularly in terms of probable economic growth and possible global impact. These future innovators are the ones who will drive the global economy of the future. So how does the guy or girl-next-door, with a passion for developing the next great app, or serving exquisite pastries, or writing superb self-help books, make it to the same level as Oprah or Richard Branson? Here are some key characteristics to nurture and expand on:
1. Love what you do and know why you’re doing it.
Passion fuels and provides momentum. Values provide strength and character. When the going gets tough, allow your passion to fuel you and your values to guide you. There is no greater inspiration than seeing someone living his or her truth.
2. Plan Everything
“If you fail to plan you plan to fail”. Knowing everything about your business means that you are able to stay on top of opportunities, trends, and possible threats. It also means that you have the ability to work ON your business rather than simply IN the business. When you have a helicopter view, it is easier to prepare for possible opportunities or threats. It also means that by delegating, you empower your team to perform at a level that will keep them engaged, challenged and loyal.
3. Build the Best Team
There is value in surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. As well as collaborating, they add value to your business that will often lead to a Unique Selling Proposition. Being innovative requires teamwork, focus and a collaborative mind-set. Fostering this in your business will create an empowered team that works well together, brings their best to every interaction, and feels valued and appreciated. The flow-on effects are that you have a team that is loyal, attentive and shamelessly promotes your business ideas.
4. Promote a learning environment, your business and yourself
One of the chief characteristics shared by successful entrepreneurs is the ability to continuously learn and apply new knowledge. This ability ensures that they are never stuck in a comfort zone, or dealing with stale ideas.
5. Find a Mentor or a support group
They say you become whom you surround yourself with. Success can be a lonely road, but with the right encouragement and someone to champion you, the journey to success becomes one of contribution to the community at large. You will find that most successful business people are only too happy to offer guidance. What most people starting out don’t think of is that by taking up their mentor’s valuable time, a return on investment is required. Report back to your mentor on ideas you’ve implemented and successes you’ve had as a result of your interactions with them.
HOW TO SURVIVE BEING AN BY Gretel Breytenbach ENTREPRENEUR 7
Breaking up the BIg Banks By josh lane
With the ongoing United States primaries and impending election, one issue that has been at the forefront of political debate has been the ‘Big Banks’ and their place in the financial system going forward. Left-wing Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has been gaining momentum in the primaries, with one of his key policies being that of ‘Reforming Wall Street’, including, among other initiatives, a plan to break up the six largest US banks. There is little argument that ‘Wall Street’ and these big banks had the strongest hand to play in the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, but an opinion that is comparatively unpopular is that the issues that plagued these institutions pre-GFC have been addressed and, for the most part, fixed. Legislative reform, culture shifts and division of regulator duties have cultivated a significantly safer industry, which no longer poses a threat to the consumer or tax payer. At this point, breaking up the banks wouldn’t only be unnecessary, it would be counter-intuitive and damaging to the US and international economies. To truly understand the reform that’s taken place and the current position of the finance industry, there needs to be a basic understanding of what caused the financial crisis.
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The primary catalyst for the GFC and what, in hindsight, has been the answer when someone asks the question ‘what caused the crisis?’ is leverage. As Steve Eisman (recently portrayed in “The Big Short” by Steve Carell) put it, “Wall Street mistook leverage for genius”. Using borrowed money, the financial system took big, risky positions when losses were about to explode at the hands of subprime mortgage loans. In 2000, Goldman Sachs’ assets stood at $275 billion, an amount that had been slowly acquired over their business throughout 20th century. By 2008 their assets had ballooned to $1 trillion. Over eight years they had accumulated nearly four times the wealth it had taken them 100 years to build. Similarly Citigroup: $1 trillion in 2001, six years later, $2 trillion. Over six years they had doubled their $1 trillion in assets. Explosions in leverage can easily be identified as a primary cause of these huge periods of growth. In 2001 Citigroup were leveraged 21 to 1. By 2007 they were up to 33 to 1. Despite this leverage, the vinegar to the proverbial baking-soda volcano diorama was the now infamous subprime lending.
For a better understanding of how the system works, I recommend doing further reading (watching “The Big Short” for a slightly more Hollywood-ised explanation can also help), but here is the crux of how they work. Lenders would give loans out which large banks would then package and securitise into neat little packages called CDOs (Collateralised Debt Obligations), which could then be traded and treated like any other security. Everyone in the system benefited and it was immensely profitable, so when good loan candidates dried up, the standards were lowered. The cycle kept going until the point they were at just prior to the crisis: anyone with a pulse could get a loan. It worked almost like a giant Ponzi scheme. Everything kept ticking as long as house prices continued to rise. It was basic economic theory; easier loans meant more money in the hands of buyers, which meant higher demand for house prices, which meant prices rose. Until it all blew up. So who’s to blame? Everyone from the top down was at fault. The regulators should have been doing their job and protecting consumers from the banks being silly, the banks shouldn’t have been so silly, lenders shouldn’t have offered loans to people who obviously shouldn’t have been given any loan and consumers shouldn’t have been silly enough to take loans that they definitely couldn’t afford.
Thankfully new regulation has taken important steps to rectify the mistakes made prior to and during the GFC. One of the important aspects of the DoddFrank Financial Reform Act 2010 was the division of labour. The new rules outlined that the Federal Reserve would regulate safety and soundness and the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau looks after consumers dealing with financial institutions. The second major reform was the reduction in leverage of the large banks. Citigroup’s aforementioned 33 to 1 leverage pre-GFC has been reduced below 10 to 1, with the Fed enforcing similar caps across the board. The Volcker Rule, a component of DoddFrank, eliminated the proprietary trading desks at banks, effectively eliminating risky leveraged trading. While the system isn’t perfect yet, it is no longer accurate to say that the large banks pose a systematic danger to the US economy. Furthermore, no advocate for bank breakups, political candidate or otherwise, has come forward with a plan on how to do it. The big banks are global, interconnected, complex beasts. Breaking them apart wouldn’t just be difficult; it could have serious economic consequences. At the very least banks would likely have to freeze loan growth, slowing an already stalling economy even further. With a regulatory regime in place that seems to be working, the banks no longer need to be broken up.
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Kickstart A VENTURE
by Oscar Presto
Currently the second-highest grossing “crowdfunding” website, Kickstarter, has made waves for entrepreneurs everywhere, as it serves as a catalyst for launching ventures. Since its launch, over 10 million people have backed projects, $2.2 Billion has been pledged, and 101,454 projects have been successfully funded. Without further ado, lets dive into my picks for campaigns that could use your spare change.
Project: Caps
Like beer? Like drinking it fast? Oh boy, do I have the project for you! Caps is an attachment for the top of your beer bottle that allows liquid to flow faster through the channel, similar to the use of a straw in a sculling competition. If that’s not enough, they come in fancy colours, so you can avoid the awkward hand touch and ensuing eye contact when you and your best bud go to grab the same beer. All jokes aside however, Caps is an intuitive and cost effective solution to remove some of the air intake while sinking your favourite stubby, which in turn would reduce that bloated feeling.
Backers: 37 Funding Required: 35,000 CAD (roughly 35,350 AUD) Percentage of funding: 5% Days Remaining: 23
Project: Oak & Jackal Watches
Backers: 92 Funding Required: 8,000 AUD Percentage of funding: 92 107%! Days Remaining: 23
In the process of writing this article, Oak & Jackal completed their funding goal with 24 days to spare. I considered removing them from the list, as they were in no longer need of help, however they were too nice of a project not to spotlight. A gentleman by the name of Chris Shaw from Melbourne created the brand in August of 2015, and his goal was to create a timepiece that was both fashionable yet not too expensive for any younger person living out of home. O&J currently offer 2 color schemes which are day and night themed, however pledgers who don’t want to send away in excess of $80 can donate less and receive a branded tee or wallet. This is an important factor to note and one I believe pushed O&J over the edge of their funding goal: giving consumers lower donation increment rewards as to induce funding from backers with varying levels of interest.
Project: B-CREATIVE 3D PRINTING
By the time of print, this project will have unfortunately timed out. However, the company will continue to operate from their personal website, so if this sounds of interest to you, do not hesitate to head over there. Founded by four gentlemen in October of 2014, B-Creative is aiming to make 3D printing accessible and user-friendly to family households. They are offering a compact cube-shaped printer that is Wi-Fi-enabled and much simpler than most currently on the market. Their system allows the user to simply pick a design either on their phone or computer and send it straight to the printer, where it will begin work right away. Ideally, this system would run off most user-generated content, allowing for a sharing space, which would assist both the company and consumer. Overall, B-Creative shows a lot of promise for connecting the world of 3D printing to families at home.
Backers: 86 Funding Required: 50,000 USD (Roughly 67,000 AUD) Percentage of funding: 66% Days Remaining: 12 Hours!
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Born out of Bond: Nick Pearce and the Success of BlackBoard By Rebecca Gillingham
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Name: Nick Pearce Age: 25 Owner of: Blackboard Varsity & Blackboard Coffee Roasters DEgree: Bachelor of Business - Entrepreneurship starting in 101 Fun Fact: Chicken poo & lay eggs from the same hole called ‘the vent’ In the last 6 years he has owned: - Blackboard Coffee (varsity) - ESPL COFFEE (surfers paradise) - Blackboard Local Grocer (varsity) - Blackboard Coffee Roasters (isle of Capri) - Griffith St Larder (coolangatta) - Larder Burleigh Waters - Blackboard Coffee Roasters (Burleigh Waters) - Paper Cup Coffee (Labrador) Top 3 tips for a young entrepreneur? 1. Have a purpose: people connect with stories that are real. 2. Have a go, stop planning to make it perfect or thinking 'what if this happens?' 3. Prepare to fail and try again, its not a race take it slow.
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Famous for their cronuts, toasted banana bread and their smashed avo, Blackboard is a haven for every hustling student on the daily grind. Since opening in 2009, Blackboard Coffee in Varsity has become a little pocket of the Melbourne cafe scene in the heart of the Gold Coast. Right next to Bond University, the cafe functions as the 'it' place to be and the saving grace for getting away from bra coffee. As the years have gone on, and cohorts of students have passed through the ranks, many freshers fail to hear how Blackboard rose to fame from one of their very own Bondies, Nick Pearce. At the prime age of 19, Nick saw an opening in Market Square and with a little help from his old man, he created Blackboard. We were lucky enough to interview Nick and get a small insight into his world.
What inspired you to begin Blackboard?
I have always enjoyed being hospitable and hosting people, there is no better feeling than seeing the joy on someone’s face from something you made. I started Blackboard in January of 2011 because I felt there was something missing from my life on the coast. Having made the recent move from Melbourne, where coffee is ingrained in the culture, I felt that buzz was missing on the coast. I wanted to help pioneer and change the landscape to have a casual venue that served up great traceable ingredients prepared with care and had a real sense of community about it. I had no idea if people would like it but I couldn’t sit by and not try, only to wonder if it would have worked.
How did it begin?
A space opened up next to Bond right when I had the growing idea in my head that this was something I wanted to do. Instantly everyone told me I was crazy and that the coast was over run with coffee shops. But being young, naïve and confident, I knew what I was putting together was different and would connect with people.
A day in the life of Nick Pearce, what’s it like?
Hard to say - I don’t have a set structure and every day is different. These days I’m working mainly at the roaster where we warehouse our beans, roast our coffee & carry out barista training. Then I’m dropping off coffee to wholesale customers, meeting with new potential customers etc. I really 14
value time off and exercise, while also making sure I have time for my fiancé Soph.
Have you had any ventures/ ideas fail? If so, could you name a couple?
Yes for sure - Blackboard Local Grocer. I think we had too much going on and I tried to make it too perfect and invested too much money into it. I tried to make it something bigger than what it had to be and I think if I tried it again we could learn from the mistakes we made. We have had micro failures all the time too, just day to day stuff that you can see is not working, but it reminds us to adapt quickly. I also tried to formalize the business with my business partner about 12 months ago by bringing in structures, however it killed the vibe, I began to dread work and all the fun left. It took some time to fix that mistake and we are now in a stronger position because of it, as it reminds us how important the culture of who we are and what we stand for in our workplace.
Assuming you’re human, how do you deal with falling into a rut?
Blackboard has been a really wild ride full of unpredictable surprises and some gnarly stressful times. I have always believed that your health need to be your #1 priority so that you can perform at as close to 100% no matter if you’re in a good place or a crisis. So having a healthy supportive relationship, eating well, yoga, surfing, boxing and meditation are all things I do to keep me in a positive state of mind. These generally make me a happier person so I think I’d be doing these if I were in business or not. I’ve found myself in challenging times often, but the secret is to just view it as a challenge and not a rut or a long-term position. You need to mentally remove yourself from the situation and view it from a birds-eye-view, or as my old man would say ‘get in your helicopter’ to get above the problem and view it without emotion. I’ve recently taken my foot off the accelerator and am learning to be a little more content with the present moment that I’m in and the business is in. Particularly after you’ve made it through the survival stage, it’s really easy to feel the need to go full steam ahead but there are a variety of negative impacts of spreading yourself to thin.
“My old man would say ‘get in your helicopter’ to get above the problem and view it without emotion”
How do balance work and play?
So many people spin bullshit lines like ‘live a few years like no one else will, so you can live the rest of your life like no one else can’, but I want to do this for a long time. A good mate of mine sent me a text a couple of days ago that made me chuckle, it said: ‘most rich people are just poor people with money’. Whilst that’s not entirely true, it makes you think about what success really is, and how it looks different to everyone. I believe you need to feel a deep connection with what you do in order to truly satisfy yourself. Managing this and working on your business/ job will energize and sustain you. In my down time I love hosting friends at my home in Cabarita beach and cooking for them. I try to take a fair few little holidays through the year of 3 - 4 days, and 2 bigger ones to go and explore the world. I always come back inspired and ready to put that energy into what we do. I really enjoy active play, such as: hiking, yoga, surfing and Thai boxing. Recently I’ve been checking out trampoline places, which is a hell of a time. One of my mates is 37 and he is ripping backflips on the foam snowboard.
What do you attribute to the success of your restaurants?
We treat people well and they leave happier than when they arrived. Our core values are written on our walls but need to run deep in the experience and our team who are the ambassadors for it. We aim to be a business that is approachable to people, has integrity in what we sell, traceable in sourcing our products and is executed with care and consistency. Culture determines your community’s interaction with your business and is everything when building a beautiful business.
Any plans for the future?
We’re working on a pretty wild concept that will really take the business to a whole new level and align with our purpose of creating happiness on a global scale. It’s really exciting but it’s in such an infancy stage that I don’t really want to say anything about it just yet but follow us on social media streams and in the next 12 months this project will slowly reveal itself. 15
There’s a book for that. Seriously, think about any topic and there will be a wide range of books available on that topic. With that in mind, Business and Entrepreneurship are probably some of the most popular topics in those books today. But with so much choice, where should you start? Where should you look to give you that initial snippet of inspiration or that piece of information that places you on the right path? Well, here are three books that should inspire you, help you understand good culture and finally, how to get down to it when you’re ready.
Finding Inspiration: Arnold Schwarzenegger – Total Recall He may be one of the most successful body builders and Hollywood actors ever, as well as the former Governor of the largest state in the USA, but he is also an entrepreneur. Someone who had multiple mail order businesses, property developments, and founded one of the most prestigious Body Building competitions called ‘The Arnold Classic’. Schwarzenegger includes thoughts, feelings and details on his life that you won’t find in any other article. Personal insights which provide invaluable lessons about attitude, perseverance, and challenging the status quo. Even if you are not a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger, his story is inspiring and a must read if you are searching for that one book to convince you to finally attack that idea you’ve been sitting on for far too long.
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Leadership & Culture: Richard Branson – The Virgin Way
Culture through leadership is everything, or that’s what Richard Branson would like you to believe in the countless articles and blog posts he has written on the topic. The culture of the Virgin Group, of which Branson is the founder, can be attributed in part to his recipe for success. This can also be seen across his numerous other companies which fall into a wide range of industries including trains, gyms, airlines and banking. The Virgin Way includes anecdotes from Branson’s own experience on how his leadership style has shaped the culture of the company. Whilst the ideas may not be new to those who have completed any subjects relating to Managing People, it’s a good case study and provides the example of a large recognisable brand applying a range management and communication concepts.
Getting down to it: Guy Kawasaki – The Art of the Start 2.0
At Bond, there is no shortage of resources to help you and your idea get off the ground. However, it is also nice to be able refer to your very own handbook. Even though it is focused on launching a business in the USA using venture capital, the practical applications are still very much relevant in an Australian context. Loaded with sound advice and useful tips, The Art of the Start 2.0 is not a difficult read, and wastes no time in getting straight to the point – launching your start up.
Where to buy?
These three books can be found easily in any book store or local library. You can also borrow digital versions from your local library website. Alternatively, there are number of online stores that allow you to purchase digital or physical versions including booktopia.com.au and amazon.com.au. Or, if you’d rather let somebody read to you, audiobook versions can be found on audible.com.au. Happy Reading!
By Ashley Perkins 17
So who will it be? The Bond student in the Tavern with the candlestick?
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Palaver 161 19
“Always nice to see the boys scrub up...” - Alice Ringlestein
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STUDENT PROFILES 22
NAVDEEP PARISCHA: Nickname: Nav Age: 18 Degree: Bachelor of Business What project did you develop in the Bond Business Accelerator?
iYouth. Initially it was developed as a 3-part wellbeing program to improve the mental health of Australian school children. Now, along with our program, we’re focusing on an online magazine. We think young people are awesome, but mainstream media fails to paint us that way. If you consider shows like 60 minutes and A Current Affair, many of their segments associate youths with gangs, drugs and 'dropkicks'. Casting youths in this light can have a detrimental effect on one’s self-belief – and societies beliefs about them. How does iYouth combat that? We profile awesome young people aged 15 - 25, and highlight opportunities for young people to be awesome.
What does your project aim to do?
How did you come to that idea?
I developed the idea after working with troubled kids struggling with various issues such as anxiety and depression, something that affected me growing up. Like so many teenagers, I felt depressed and isolated and believed I had nobody to talk to. I was bullied, doing badly in school and I didn’t have a very good track record. Later, my rugby coach reached out to mentor and guide me, which helped put me back on the right path. It was really the catalyst for change for me. I was so lucky to have had someone to help me when I was going through a tough time that I felt a responsibility to become that person to other kids experiencing similar issues. I started working in youth mental health, delivering workshops and working one-on-one with teenagers who were experiencing a range of issues like self-image, self-harm, depression or anxiety. After being in the field for two years, I realised there is a limit to what I can do as one person, so I set out to create a more sustainable solution that was accessible on a day to day basis.
How would you describe your experience in the Bond Business Accelerator?
I went into BBA with passion and an idea, but no clue how to pull it off. The program directed that energy by giving guidance and teaching skills to turn my idea into a successful business, that went beyond my original plans. We had initially been thinking of a Queensland market, but the BBA quickly guided me on how to enhance the business model so we can enter other states in Australia and also the international market.
What other entrepreneurial activities have you conducted? • •
Co-Manage a software development agency Co-Founder, Bond Entrepreneurship Collective
1 in 4 young Australians experience some form of anxiety or depression. Think about it. That means 1 in 4 of the children, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends you care about are suffering.
What plans do you hold for the future?
iYouth is going to change that.
How can I find out more? www.theiyouth.com
I see time as a commodity, and want to look back on life knowing I’ve gotten the best return on my investment. What’s the return I’m chasing? I am going to change the world.
Founder of iYOUTH 23
ASHLEY PERKINS: Name: Ashley Perkins Age: 25 Degrees Undertaken: Bachelor of Business (Management) Bachelor of Information Technology (Distinction)
Following your undergrad degree in Business and IT, what motivated you to do your MBA? Undertaking my MBA felt like the next logical step of progression to fulfil my ultimate career goals. Since completing my undergraduate degrees, I had gained some very valuable experience in the professional world and was keen to apply that in an academic setting to gain further knowledge in business areas I wasn’t as familiar with. I also hoped to refine the tools necessary to ensure that I am the best manager and leader I can be.
How have you found the transition between undergrad and postgrad?
The transition from undergraduate to postgraduate was a distinct change for me as I was also transitioning into the boutique style of learning Bond employs versus a much larger QUT campus where I completed my earlier degrees. In addition, the MBA program specifically, versus most undergraduate content, isn’t about simply learning facts and being able to recall them well in an exam. The program is about learning concepts, and combining those with your previous professional experience, to be able to grasp and successfully apply those concepts to a number of real world derived pieces of assessment.
What entrepreneurial activities have you conducted?
At the moment I have been solely focused on my studies; noting down ideas and thoughts about opportunities as I go along. However, following the completion of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation unit last semester, I do now hope to participate in the Bond Business Accelerator to refine and give life to some of those ideas. The Bond Business Accelerator provides resources and contacts designed to support student entrepreneurial success.
MBA STUDENT 24
How would you describe taking up Entrepreneurship at a Postgraduate level? The ideas and practices utilised in the postgraduate approach to Entrepreneurship is usually shaped by your personal experiences in the professional world and most likely your personal opinions and exposure to how start-ups work (or even how they can’t possibly work in some cases), in contrast to undergraduate students who most times through lack of exposure, may have the simple gift of ignorance about such topics. As such, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation course works to break down the concepts with a scientifically academic approach that enables us as postgraduate students to turn our experience into an advantage, understand the process of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and therefore open our minds.
What do you hope to get out of your MBA?
When I first commenced my MBA degree, learning more about specific business areas and developing myself further as a manager and leader to assist my career progression, were my goals. However, since being immersed into the course and student life at Bond, it has not only done this but also provided me with a fantastic network of similarly minded individuals and opened the door to the possibility of collaborations and successes beyond my time in the program. In addition, a bonus has been the opportunity as a postgraduate to expand these development areas across borders and as such, I recently submitted my application to complete a semester abroad, so I hope to now incorporate an international element to my program outcomes. What plans do you hold for post-graduation? The post-graduation plans I have are always being reset as I progress throughout the MBA program and continue to grow my network of friends and professional contacts. Before, I would have said a top tier management role in Australia; utilising my skills, experience and degrees, but right now anything is possible and the world is waiting for me beyond my time at Bond, so that is extremely exciting.
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Hungry on a Student Budget:
A Guide to Gold Coast Restuarants
1. Blackboard
Cute if you have never quite made it here but you are no self-respecting Bond student. Takeaway table is every hardworking/ leaving-it-to-the-last-minute students saviour and their banana bread (toasted, please) is infamous. Friendly tip: If you can make the time to actually sit down note that if you order the sides all together (e.g. i’ll have some toast with avocado and bacon) it will cost you under $10 as opposed to having a $20 main breakfast meal, although the smashed avocado is holy. Who to take: yourself the day of the exam, friend dealing with existential crisis or the person you wake up next to the morning after mid sem bash
2. Paddock
Into acai? Maybe a pitaya bowl is more of your Instagram’s style? Look no further then the rustic ambience and top quality nosh from Paddock. Note to readers, do not go when it’s raining or the only place you will have to sit undercover will be back in your car. Luckily we live in the land of minimal rain so you should avoid this issue and therefore be able to enjoy the delicious offerings of this little gem. If you still have some extra petrol in the tank, journey down to their offshoot Bam Bam Bakehouse for more goodies. Who to take: your mum or best friend; we also recommend Paddock for first dates so the whole of campus doesn’t partake in your awkward chatter at Blackboard. 26
3. Justin Lane
Forget actually going to eat in, order an hour in advance over the phone to enjoy the best pizza on the coast but takeaway. Go and pick it up and head to the top of Burleigh Hill for not only the best view/ date spot/time to consider rethinking that Actuarial Science degree. The tiger prawn pizza is phenomenal but for plain Jane’s the margherita is also exceptional. If it’s getting to that time of semester where even the library makes you feel stressed, they also deliver. Who to take: yourself the night before the exam, yourself after the exam as a reward, your dad.
4. Krish
The $15 butter chicken, rice and naan deal is not to ever be spoken of negatively. It’s quick, within 100m of campus and no issues can be found with this proposal. Who to take: anyone who values the power of butter chicken and a good deal.
5. Mexicali
Tuesday’s. Only go on Tuesday’s. Unless Mum and Dad upped your allowance this week, aim for the day when the tacos at $5. This way you don’t feel guilty chowing down on the best goddamn tacos and nachos on the coast. The frozen margaritas are sensational and the light-up black box in the entrance makes for an arty yet low maintenance Instragram.
By Amelia Esau
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BY CHRISTIAN WHITFIELD a.k.a. https://au.linkedin.com/in/christianwhitfield
6 Steps to a LinkedIn Power Profile
LinkedIn is a powerhouse in the professional social media space with over 440 million users in over 200 countries. I am an intent advocate for LinkedIn as a platform for not only connecting with people you know and building ongoing relationships, but equally for reaching out to professionals that can help you in any facet of your professional development. My daily interaction with LinkedIn has helped me hone what does and does not work effectively in achieving the ultimate goal: a job. These are tips from my personal experience:
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1. Have an APPROPRIATE profile image Adding a profile picture to your LinkedIn page makes you 14 times more likely to be found, regardless of how active you are. Not only does LinkedIn’s search algorithm favour more complete profiles, a profile picture gives you a free opportunity to get your face in front of important people. However, an appropriate picture is not the same for everyone. In my industry, corporate attire is standard dress code; compare this with the events management industry and a picture in cocktail attire at an event would make far more sense than a suit and tie. Tailor your profile attire, location and pose to appeal to the people you are trying to connect with.
2. More is more LinkedIn is a licence to put anything and everything you have done that is remotely relevant to your professional development in front of everyone. Use your profile as a free pass to brag about yourself and do not leave things out. The only decision you need to make is around how relevant the accolade is; working at a fish and chip store when you were 13-years old most likely wouldn’t make the cut (aspiring chefs feel free to ignore), however there is no reason why your current part-time job shouldn’t be on your profile. Employers and prospective connections will find interest in a range of experience; give them as many opportunities to want to connect with you as possible.
3. Your Headline is Your First Impression Make it relevant! Despite your headline being dubbed as your ‘current role,’ this is not your opportunity to use your unrelated casual job to sell yourself. Anything unrelated will hurt you more than it will help you, to the extent that industry experience not in your niche interest may even be detrimental. The beauty of the headline for students is that it is an opportunity to use your degree to promote your area of studies to potential connections. Institution name, degree name and graduating year can all go in your headline and be not only relevant, but also extremely important in attracting the right connections. LinkedIn presents your profile in searches by name, profile picture and headline; this is your first impression, so there are no second chances.
4. Your Connections Speak Volumes Your online presence is of increasing importance and employers are vetting social media pages with more scrutiny than ever before. Who you connect with and whom you follow on LinkedIn is a reflection of your
purpose for being online. I actively cull my connections for young professionals, fellow students with relevant degrees and professionals I admire; LinkedIn is not a place for friends. Who you follow is just as important in building an online presence as whom you have connected with. This is something that can be Google’d for each industry however, for example, if you are an aspiring Hotel Manager you may want to follow: Marriott, Hilton and Accor whereas someone interested in Finance may choose: Goldman Sachs, Westpac and Macquarie Group.
5. Be Sure to Give, Not Just Take It is easy to expect LinkedIn to use its algorithms to help you find relevant connections and for your profile to be enough to impress prospects; it is another thing to compose and share articles, videos and information that make you valuable as both a LinkedIn connection but also a potential employee. To create an online persona, look to share information that you find most interesting, there is such a gross amount of information available, anyone will be grateful for you distilling that. Be consistent with what you share in order to create a deliberate image of yourself that connections come to trust and even rely on. Pushing the envelope further, find articles that concern the professionals you most want to connect with and provide some level of commentary. Be consistent, be constant and do not be afraid to pass comment.
6. The Holy Grail Yes, LinkedIn has a holy grail, a profile feature that will make you stand out above and beyond all others without it - the pride and joy of my profile. Getting a ‘recommendation’ will take your profile to the next level. LinkedIn recommendations work as a function of a particular work experience where you have connected with your supervisor or colleague and they write an appraisal of your performance in that role. If you are able to firstly connect with your superiors and secondly, feel comfortable sending them a request for a recommendation, it would be my number one tip to make happen. Regardless of if it is industry experience (helps if it is), a supervisor speaking to your quality as a worker will never be anything but hugely positive. Find and obtain the Holy Grail and watch your profile views explode. LinkedIn doesn’t have to be a scary undertaking, nor should it be a time consuming one. Update accolades as they happen, share stories when they come to light and connect with professionals as soon as possible. Build your power profile for the best chance to build meaningful networks. Do not be afraid to reach out, by the virtue of people you admire being on LinkedIn, means they too are looking to network. Utilise this free space to meet people you may not otherwise get in the same room as, and impress them with these profile tips that set you apart. 29
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Knees weak, arms are heavy. Hairdresser’s hands are steady; mum’s got the camera out and ready. Alice’s nervous, but on the surface she looks calm and ready. The whole crowd goes so loud as the clippers come down, all the hair coming ouJokes aside, there was more nervous energy in this past Friday evening at The Cape than there would be on a room inspection day. Alice Ringelstein, esteemed BSA social director and all-around quality human being, raised in excess of $3,000 for the World’s Greatest Shave in exchange for forfeiting her luscious locks. Every day, 34 Australians will be given the devastating news that they have leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, and they’ll turn to the Leukaemia Foundation for help. Alice joined forces with countless others in shaving her head for the cause, helping to make an incredible impact on the lives of those in need. Perhaps the greatest thing about her cause was that it was not motivated by anything other than her own personal values. Alice simply felt that it was a cause worth supporting. Her hairdresser of choice, a lovely lady by the name of Mel, refused payment and gave up her Friday night for the cause. So, with a live stream of the event running from the comfort of her living room - surrounded by a group of her friends and family - Alice took a giant leap into the unknown. Hair is innately tied to our sense of identity, and without it, you may feel lost, like a small, bald puppy. Giving up all of her locks is not a brief commitment; it is a long-term decision with constant reminders. Without a doubt, Alice looks stunning, a much more attractive Amber Rose, however she will no doubt face the struggle over the next year or so of regrowing it back to it’s previous glory. This is why we are so proud of her. Alice has chosen to donate all of her hair to Locks of Love for the creation of a wig, furthering the already incredible extent of impact she is making. If you would like to donate to her cause, please check the Business Students’ Association Facebook page for a link.
alice creates her own wonderland By Oscar Presto 31
PSA’S:
- Instagram now lets you switch accounts without having to logout [cue sighs of relief from every social media manager ever]
BSA Notices:
- - - - -
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Like our Facebook page Pick up a Major’s Guide In case you missed it... The new BSA office is located beside the Business School reception Sign up for Faculty wars (this Sunday the 20th) Free study food in week 13!
Learn to Code Event
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