Drenka Andjelic

UTS Spring 2019 Graduation Occasional Address

Drenka Andjelic

Good afternoon,

Before we begin the proceedings and behalf of all those present, I would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet; the Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eora Nation. It is upon their ancestral lands that UTS stands. Similarly, I would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for this place.

I also acknowledge

• Presiding Chancellor,
• Presiding Vice Chancellor,
• Presiding Faculty Deans,
• Presiding Registrar,
• Staff, distinguished guests, graduates, their families and friends.

Graduates, I congratulate you on your achievement today.

This year marks 30 years since I commenced my Engineering Degree here at UTS in 1989. 

My civil engineering degree from UTS is still one of the hardest things I’ve done.  The course challenged me on so many levels and ultimately prepared me well for the demands of the construction and property investment sectors.  It was recently, very re-assuring to find out I am not alone with a re-occurring nightmare, I  still experience from time to time, where I get  a tap on the shoulder, and due to an administrative glitch, I have to re-sit a Maths 2A or 2B exam. 

Preparing to speak today gave me a powerful opportunity to reflect on what’s transpired in the last 30 years with leadership, work environments and foremost different generation’s approaches to life choices.  I’ve also explored the consciousness associated with these choices.  The world has certainly changed in the last three decades and UTS has adapted to the change.  There are now several engineering disciplines and degrees that did not exist in 1989.

My generation has experienced much change. I am Generation X. I often joke with my peers that we are a bit of a middle child with the Baby Boomers and Millennials stealing our limelight. 

As a Gen X’er I believe we have done what we thought was required of us. A very high standard of achievement was set by our predecessors, the Baby Boomers. We jumped on that treadmill and worked hard without questioning all that much – certainly no time to attract attention. We finished school, the fortunate went to university then got a job. We typically changed jobs only a few times.  In a 25 year career, I am currently in my third job.  All is well though, I’m enjoying the gig as Managing Director of my very own project management practice for the last 14 years.  No complaints or immediate desires to bust a move.

I gave an occasional address here 7 years ago and found myself mindful of giving advice. I focussed on just sharing experiences and providing some inspiration rather than imparting advice. This year I unapologetically urge you to, if you haven’t already, identify your core values and design lives guided by these values. 

Millennials have questioned the treadmill and environments not aligned with values, recognition and purpose.  I believe much of the criticism for Millennials has come from my generation’s envy for not stepping off our treadmills and changing course.  Choosing to smell the roses or follow paths less travelled was considered risky, a little hocus pocus in approach or maybe even failing to conform and keep up with society’s expectations.

So my only advice to you today is to upfront identify your core values and let them guide you through the choices you make in life. This will help you identify suitable work environments and steer you through significant life decisions. Personally, I’ve learnt a great deal from average work environments. Not all workplaces will provide you with an environment where you can be consistently aligned with your core values.  It takes courage and depth as an individual to recognise when one’s core values are being compromised and to take steps to correct things. Fortunately, I’m these days witness to the old-fashioned management principles modelled on hierarchy, power and prestige recently losing traction and effectiveness.  Good management recognizes that business is ultimately about positively influencing others.  We all have responsibilities as business stakeholders to uphold this sustainable reality.

While every generation is free to make choices, great progress is in play today for you guys to thrive.  Business leadership in my early career in the 90’s wasn’t about greater good or social responsibility. Even corporate governance is relatively new.   Back then, I sometimes found myself in work environments where my core values were compromised. Eventually, rather than play the game in the management frameworks available to me for career progression, I chose to have go at running my own race. I set up my own small consulting practice. Small being the operative word – I worked solo out of a spare bedroom for the first 18 months.   These days I employ a team of up 10 people. Still purposefully small but recognized as heavy industry hitters with good reach and big impact.  Fourteen years later, I consciously and proudly provide a work environment where we can collectively operate with aligned core values – every single one of us.  My courage to not fit in mid-career, was bolstered by being an immigrant and female engineer operating in a male dominated industry.  I only learnt English at age 6 and have still never spoken English with my parents.  Simply put, I was already used to being different and not fitting in.  I have found hardship and challenge always bring opportunities for personal growth and professional development. I leveraged off this point of difference.  Made it work for me.  It is a well-known truth that you will be defined by the things you say ‘no’ to, equally, to those where ‘yes’ is the response. Saying ‘no’ creates space for curated ‘yes’s’. 

Graduates, you leave here today with a ‘degree’ from a world-leading university of technology, yet, what will differentiate you in your work place and broader community will be the choices you make from today.  I have personally experienced the high regard my degree from UTS affords in the industry.  It’s a differentiation that continues to make me proud.  I know just how much discipline, perseverance and resourcefulness you have had to consistently apply to be here today. Please be proud of this achievement and know your family and friends that have shared this journey are also very proud.

I know one of the greatest successes in my life is to be in the privileged position where my internal core values of trust, truth and authenticity now govern my external results.  I now understand and believe that you lose power when you blame others or find excuses for not doing what you want to do in life.  Through your words, deeds and actions you are responsible for all that transpires in your life.  Alignment with your core values will assist you with forming and maintaining authentic professional and personal relationships. Authentic connection and exchange with others in your communities is where the real rewards lie.  This is one of the most important positions one can engineer in their lives.

I thank you for the honour of addressing you this evening and I wish you authentic success in your journeys.