My advice to new graduates

Last month it was my great pleasure to attend a happy occasion in Berlin; the graduation ceremony for the latest cohort of bachelors at ESCP Business School (formerly EAP). This is the business school where I completed my own studies, let’s say a few years ago… All through the spring and into early summer, similar celebrations will be taking place as a new generation of talent prepares to go out into the world and start their careers.

Finishing university is a real crossroads in anyone’s life. It means you have successfully passed a major academic milestone, which is something to be really proud of. And so it was an honor to be asked to share some of the things I have learned during my own working life with the group. The bonus being that it was also a chance to return to a fantastic city that holds many wonderful memories for me. I’ve written about it before, but it was while I was doing my business degree that the Berlin Wall came down, making history and marking a new dawn for democracy and freedom.

Being there was a profound moment that made me realize that you cannot take freedom of choice or freedom of opportunity for granted. That is something that has stayed with me ever since.

And here we are, nearly 35 (!) years later. During that time I have often been asked, “what does it take to become a CEO?” or “what does it take to get to the top in a particular profession?”.? Apart from “pure luck” (in my case…) here are some of the principles that I stand by and that I shared on the day.

1. Say YES to opportunities

The first piece of advice I would give anyone is to say yes to the opportunities that come your way.

One of the reasons for my own success in the IT and telecoms business was saying yes to the few professional opportunities I found, when I had my own EAP “Diplome” in my hands. Younger readers might find it impossible to imagine a world like this, but I did not have Instagram, or a mobile phone, or even any real access to the internet, so I could not easily compare jobs like today’s students can.

However, despite all the information that is out there these days, I would recommend not spending too much time comparing jobs on Facebook, Insta or LinkedIn, but to continue being curious, courageous, and open to learning. And when an opportunity comes by, grab it – do not be too selective. You will be successful in your career in my view if you learn fast from different companies and different experiences – good and bad. It is all about trial and error.

2. Thinking big and finding your purpose

However, I also encourage anyone who is looking for career advice to think big and find their own purpose.

One of my business heroes is Bill Gates. He taught me that success also has a lot to do with true passion and purpose. With the fortune he amassed at Microsoft he could have decided to sit on a beach, drink beers, and watch the sunset. Instead, he decided to spend most of it on charity to eradicate poverty in the world. Now, that’s what I call a purpose.

In reality, few of us will do anything at that scale. And that’s ok. But whether you want to eradicate poverty (like Bill Gates), make CO2-free transportation a reality (like Elon Musk), or simply make sure that people can use their smartphone anytime, anyplace, anywhere (like me) you have to be almost religious about it. You have to believe that you can do it – and then go and change the world in your own way.

3. Getting things done

Of course, passion and purpose don’t turn into results all on their own.? I’ll name-drop again and refer you to Roger Federer’s opinion here. He was doing advertising for the company I managed at the time, and during a lunch together – which in hindsight was probably the most expensive lunch I have ever had – I asked him how he became one of the world’s all-time tennis greats.

He answered, “I was not born a tennis talent or a star - it is all about working and preparing harder and better than other the other players”. In business it’s the same - there is no magic bullet or unique idea that will catapult you to success. On the contrary, it’s all about execution and the discipline of getting things done. But it doesn’t mean just working hard. Superior execution is to get things done faster – with better output, and less resources – compared to your competition. It might not be glamorous, but it’s true.

4. Empathy, ethics and energy

In my view, saying yes to opportunities, thinking big, and embracing the discipline of getting things done are all extremely important if you want to get to the top of your chosen profession. But over and above all of these things, there is how you deal with the people and experiences you come up against in life.

Let’s be honest: when I hire young people I am not going to spend a lot of time checking their grades or the professional experiences they have had so far. I am going to try and find out if they have developed the skills to deal with diversity in people and in experiences; if they have the potential and willingness to learn; if they can develop fast, go the extra mile and, most importantly, focus on what is brilliant for the team and the company.? In summary, I am looking for evidence of what I call the “5Es” - education, experience, energy, empathy, and ethics – with extra focus on the last three for those just joining the business world.

Finally, remember that none of us can take freedom of choice and freedom of opportunity for granted. So if you do succeed, promise yourself one thing – that you will remember those who might not have been so fortunate as yourself, and think how you might help them.

My congratulations to all new graduates this year. I wish you all the best for the future.

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Photo credit: Marcela, pixabay