On 15th April 2013, I was invited to give the guest speech at a Graduation Ceremony at Sydney's Macquarie University. Here is my speech to the Class of 2013, which included my niece, Antoinette.
Chancellor, distinguished guests, faculty
members, staff, graduates and family and friends.
I’d like to thank Macquarie University for
inviting me to speak to you here today. I’m not entirely sure that I’m
deserving of this honour, but as the SBS marketers say, I'm ONE of “six billion
stories” in the world that’s out there to be told. So I’m taking this
opportunity to tell you my story in the hope that it will help YOU on your own
life and career journey.
In February 1980 with my brother Tony – and
like most of you – I enrolled at Macquarie University. My parents had instilled
in us an appreciation for tertiary study, as they had with all of my SEVEN
brothers and sisters. Tony and I both had an interest in mass communications
and seeing as we were only a year or so apart in age, we decided to do the same
degree at the same university together. In fact, we were both in this building
on that day in February, 33 years ago – the beloved E7B courtyard, navigating
the various course options and enrolment processes that would be the beginning
of our academic journey.
After graduating, I was fortunate enough to
get a start in account administration with IBM Australia, where I progressed
through the ranks to carve out a career in executive management that spanned 20
years. I left IBM and joined Telstra for two years and after that, IT
services company UXC Connect for almost three years.
Due to my profound interest in technology and
marketing, I also wrote a book on social media called the Connection Generation
and have spoken professionally at events like the TEDx Macquarie conference
last year.
This fascination with the “why and how” we
communicate in our society, especially using today's technologies such as
computers, mobile devices, the internet and social media has been of particular
interest. My research has led to the conclusion that as social animals, we
communicate because we want to connect - connect to each other, in groups and
communities, to information, ideas, thoughts, experiences, places, interests
and ... even dreams. Today's technology enables us to this more effectively,
efficiently and more instantly than in any other era.
So what does this “connectedness” mean for
you, who are graduating here today? I’d like to share with you three ways that
have worked for me in my life and business experience that you can leverage to
take full advantage of living in a “connected generation”.
Let’s start with presence. We all have a
physical presence which is obvious and visible. We’re all here today, in front
of staff, family and friends being “presented” to the world through this
graduation ceremony. There’ll also be a certificate, many photos and
celebration events to record and celebrate this momentous occasion.
There’s also our “virtual” presence. This is
our presence in the world that may not be in the room physically, but exists in
the online or cyber world. For example, how many of you [A SHOW OF HANDS
PLEASE] are on Facebook? on Twitter? And on Linkedin?
An online presence presents you with the
opportunity to PROFILE YOURSELF to the world. You can choose to use this medium
to post, comment, like, poke, share and view information about yourself and
other people that will reveal your character and potentially, your reputation
in the world. I encourage you to choose to present yourself in social media in
the best possible light. Beyond family and friends, there are potential
employers, suitors and investors who can view who you are and what you think,
when you’re not physically there. You need to ensure that you’re as DRESSED FOR
SUCCESS ONLINE, as much as you are in the physical world.
Secondly, YOUR physical and virtual presence
also presents you with a unique opportunity. You may not be visible in the
physical world due to time and distance factors ... BUT... you could be in the
virtual world. The virtual world allows you to plant your presence at any time
in many places, with people and in groups and communities through emails, posts
and commentary that CONNECTS YOU to areas of interest. I implore you to make
your presence felt - voice an opinion about a cause you believe in, start an
initiative to better the world and share ideas that could make a difference in
someone's life and the community. It’s a unique and fantastic opportunity to
help others less fortunate than you and to make a direct contribution to the
world.
I’ve spoken about the presence and
opportunity that connectedness gives us. There is one more fundamental factor
that we should not forget - FAMILY.
My parents reinforced to us the importance of
a university education. It has become a legacy of the Pintado family that we
have embraced the Macquarie University family. Two of my brothers and one
sister; my former wife, Kerry; my two children, Rachel and Andrew; my daughter
in law, Jessica, my son-in-law, Sam and no less than three of my nieces – including ANTOINETTE who
is graduating at this ceremony today – now have degrees from Macquarie.
We have all established a strong relationship
with Macquarie post-graduation, through the Alumni program. As a graduate of
the University, we are part of the global alumni community, spanning 140
countries. My strong advice to each of you is that you STAY CONNECTED with your
fellow students, staff and other alumni through their formal program and their
presences on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin through your Macquarie connection.
You are now formally welcomed into the Macquarie family – BOTH physically and
virtually!
In conclusion, as a member of the connected
generation, you have been granted the gift of enhancing your physical presence
by being given the opportunity to establish and activate your virtual presence.
You have the capability to actively contribute to society and business globally
by being informed, voicing an opinion, starting a movement, making a stand and
sharing insights to effect change in the world . The starting point is through
the familiar connection point of family, commencing today with your induction
into the Macquarie family.
I sincerely thank the university for the
honour of addressing you today and I wish each and every one of you the best of
success in developing and defining YOUR OWN STORY amongst the six billion that
connects us all. Thank you.
