Creating mindsets for success

Each member of the panel drew on their experiences, successes, and failures to discuss the perennial topics of employability in the twenty-first century.

The discussion, moderated by Bridget Dunne and Matthew Race (Golden Key members and President and Vice-President of the REA), focused on how students can be prepared for the transition from university to work, how to overcome fear and other limiting mindsets and recognising and harnessing every person’s potential to create opportunities.

The panel included three Golden Key International Honour Society alumni:

• Sandra Arico, Senior Manager of RMIT Fastrack Innovation Program
• Kane Hooper, Top MBA Student 2014, Business Turnaround Specialist 
• Christine Teo, RMIT Alumnus, Founder of Generation 414

Participants also heard from Paul Gough, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice President, College of Design and Social Context, and Sally Brooks, Manager of Career Development Education at RMIT University.

Arico spoke about her success and when she felt the most satisfied.

“I define success as the sweet spot between the three P's - passion, purpose, and profit,” she said.

“I was most satisfied when I was living in a remote community in Guatemala, when I had nothing, and felt connected and truly me.

“Now, as Senior Manager of Fastrack Innovation, I feel truly satisfied because my values are aligned and I have found that sweet spot between those three Ps.”

Gough also had some interesting perspectives on success.

“Success is fluid and self-defined, and constraint - not having much - is sometimes a liberating factor in success,” he said.

His advice to students is to fail again, fail better and remember that how you rebuild yourself is success.

He explained that a mindset of success often involves having the courage to reflect and self-evaluate.

“Be objective of you and what you can improve on, while not being critical,” he said.

When Teo was asked how she overcomes fear, she said it’s important to remember that she’s not here for herself, but for others.

“Be comfortable with the fact that you can't have it all,” she said.

“Ask yourself the question: What do you really value? Sometimes you have to be selfish with your use of time.”

Kane Hooper gave this advice to students looking to kick-start their career:

• Put yourself in the shoes of who you want to be; ‘be the CEO’. 
• Play in traffic. The most dangerous place to be is sitting on the sidelines. 
• Success comes from being willing to take on a higher level of responsibility.

Sally Brooks explained that the qualities she looks for in stand-out students are passion, honesty, enthusiasm, perseverance and tenacity.

“Having worked with RMIT students for 25 years I am always impressed by the capability and competence of students,” she said.

Brooks finished up by emphasising the importance of gratitude and choosing your response.

“Faced with disappointment, you can either adopt a negative and resentful attitude, or be optimistic and resilient. You pick yourself up, and remember that tomorrow is another day. “

Story: Ainslie Logsdon and Xiyi Wang