Craig Lambert

Graduates, and family and friends who have joined us here today. Well, a very genuine and heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class. You leave here already with a big advantage, having graduated from a prestigious school, alongside which I’ve been told is an extremely high calibre of students. UTS is internationally recognised, and being part of this community is something you should all feel extremely proud of.

My company Slingshot will invest in and accelerate the growth of literally hundreds of companies in the coming years. I’m extremely fortunate to have a front-row seat for the fast-paced change in our economy. It is an incredibly exciting time, and the journey you’re all about embark upon, and the careers that you undertake, are going to coincide with the time in history that will see the largest amount of change that this planet has ever experienced. All of you sitting in this room will play a role in that. Technology, automation, disruption, and the overall impact of the new digital economy are topics I get asked about in boardrooms and on campuses on a weekly basis. The nature of what we know as work is changing, and we’re entering into the age of the entrepreneur at a time that has been described as an ‘entreprenaissance’. Now, that doesn’t mean that you’ll all necessarily go out and start your own start-ups, although certainly some of you will. But it does mean that your reliance and responsibility for a happy and successful work life will no longer be the responsibility of your employer or your boss. It will now be up to you. You will set the hours that suit you to work, you will define the way that you are measured, and you will ultimately control the remuneration that you deserve. You’ve all worked now in dynamic work environments, collaborating with colleagues more on a project basis than in a continuous job role. And you’re about to enter a dramatically shifting workplace, as many of its current participants are still struggling to adapt to.

With any change, there is uncertainty, so as I prepared for today’s presentation, I reflected on what insight I might be able to share to help you prepare for this. Well, I looked at my own business and how we make decisions, and it really comes down to one common trait: the people behind the businesses, and what type of character they are. At Slingshot, we absolutely and unashamedly invest in people, not ideas. We invest in the people we want to work with, and not simply the company with the best technology. We want to be proud of the community we’re creating, and therefore when we assess potential investments and partners, there are a set of qualities we look for, and these are the same qualities we promote and coach in our start-up companies, so I’d like to share those with you today. Firstly, embrace and celebrate diversity. We exist in a global economy, made up of an amazing mix of different types of people, from different countries, cultures, religions, beliefs, capabilities and orientations.

Your experience on such a diverse campus like UTS has provided you with a wonderful example of the strong benefits of a truly integrated community. As we continue to be more connected with each other, your ability to be able to communicate and operate with a diverse group of people will become not only the right thing to do, but also a great asset in building your career. Secondly, be brave. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is not an advert for anxiety, but for truly challenging yourself. The greatest personal growth comes from doing the things that perhaps don’t come as naturally. There is an intangible factor that drives most successful entrepreneurs. Yes, they are smart, and yes, they probably have an appetite for risk and are willing to back themselves, but make no mistake, being in charge of your own destiny is hard. Don’t be discouraged if at your first attempt you fail. Continue to make brave decisions and be proud of yourself for trying. I’d like to share with you something controversial – that it’s okay to break rules. So the greatest breakthroughs come from people challenging status quo. The word ‘disruption’, which is so widely used now to describe new and exciting business models, is just ‘rule breaker’ written in business language. Don’t accept what is the norm, be prepared to challenge traditional ways of thinking, and ask for forgiveness, not permission.

Next, the importance of personal networks. And even though we are more connected than ever, there is a need to develop real and genuine relationships with people and value them. What others say about you is 50 times as powerful as what you would say about yourself. I could tell you that every person I hire and the majority of my clients in our business come from a personal referral from my own business network. Your ability to be able to curate and develop real relationships will be key. This doesn’t mean simply having a large social media following. It means taking the time to build a real network of people in a variety of industries in a variety of roles, both up and down. So the next tip is fake it until you make it. Most people, when they’re in their first new job, experience a long sense of doubt as to whether they can actually master the tasks that they’re expected to do. Don’t worry – you will. A new job means new language, new ways of doing things, new people, and it’ll take some time to be able to learn the ropes, the shortcuts, and to get comfortable doing a job that you feel is credible. The bad news is, by the time you finally have an expert grasp of that role, it usually signals it’s time to embark on a new challenge and go through another series of self-doubt again. Never confuse confidence and arrogance. This is a hard one to get right.

Confidence is the belief in oneself to succeed, whereas arrogance is the expression that you are in some way superior. I see people get this wrong on a daily basis. Confident people usually say less than arrogant people. Confident people usually harness the power of a team to use their goals. Confident people smile when they work. Confident people carry themselves in a way that others connect with. Confident people are proud of their achievements but never boastful. Be real. I try to get this through to most people when I meet them for the first time – it’s hard when you’re trying to impress. We usually put forward what we think is the best version for ourselves so we can be judged at the highest standard. A lot of times this comes across as disingenuous. Be true to yourself, be true to your values and belief, be accurate and honest in the language you use, and never do anything you’re uncomfortable with. Your internal moral compass is a great guide – listen to it.

Less is more. This phrase is credited with an architect and furniture designer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the founders of modern architecture. However, I actually learned it from my mother, who is joining us in the audience today. It’s probably the phrase that in coaching and mentoring I use the most. We live in a world where time is our most precious commodity. We are constantly being bombarded with messages and information. Successful people cut through the clutter, keep things simple, and don’t over explain what doesn’t need explaining. Don’t tell your audience things they already know. The ability to communicate with conciseness and brevity is a great trait in business. Be aware of this, and practice mastering the art. If someone wants more detail, they’ll probably ask for it.  

Lastly, your personal brand is hard to develop, but very easy to destroy. I’ve worked for some of the world’s largest media companies, and in life, I can tell you that bad news sells. Life is very similar. You go to university, get a degree, get a good job, build a strong network, work hard and celebrate success. All of these things take an enormous investment in time, which can be undone very easily. Be careful what you post on social media. If you wouldn’t want it on the front page of the paper with your photo next to it, it’s probably something you don’t want to share through your social media channels. As an employer and as an investor, I can assure you that people will look at your social feeds as a way of getting insight into who you are. And the final thing I want to share with you is try to do something that actually makes you happy. I’m lucky that every day I’m in a position where I do something I truly love and feel proud of my accomplishments. I love the people I work with, and there’s no better way to achieve work life balance to be in that position, so seek that out with gusto. Once again, congratulations on your achievements today. I wish you all the best of luck in the world, and in the next stage of life and your career. Thank you.