At the Instep Young Leaders’ Breakfast, held early August at the University of Waikato, our aspiring leaders were introduced to core leadership principles through an engaging and adventure-filled session. The speaker, Jamie Fitgerald-a world-class adventurer, business mind, and speaker who supports people and organisations to achieve peak performance began by stressing the significance of a shared vision in leadership, drawing from personal experiences such as a challenging cliff-climbing adventure filmed for a television show. The importance of having a united statement or purpose was highlighted as essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals.

The session took an inspirational turn as the speaker shared insights from a conversation they had with the Sir Edmund Hillary. The discussion centered on Sir Hillary’s South Pole expedition and the grueling challenges it entailed. Sir Hillary’s advice was to make the journey “the most demanding but rewarding thing” resonated deeply, leading the speaker to take on the ambitious task of walking to the South Pole and back, unaided. This story underscored the importance of thorough preparation and unwavering commitment when pursuing ambitious goals.

Leadership principles were explored further with the introduction of five key practices: inspiring a shared vision, modeling the way, enabling others to act, challenging the process, and encouraging the heart. These practices were illustrated with anecdotes from the speaker’s adventurous endeavors, reinforcing leadership’s focus on safety, shared values, and personal growth.

The breakfast also featured an insightful discussion on teamwork, exemplified by the speaker’s participation in an ocean rowing race from Africa to Barbados. This segment highlighted the necessity of clear communication and mutual commitment for success in challenging team environments. The concept of “90% agreement, 100% commitment” was introduced as a key takeaway for participants.

A unique feedback exercise engaged our young leaders in a metaphorical discussion about feedback styles, using various cookie flavors to explore different approaches to giving and receiving constructive criticism. The exercise emphasised the importance of structured feedback, focusing on specific behaviours and examples, and how this can be applied in various contexts such as sports, music, and academics.

The breakfast concluded with a detailed introduction to the Leadership Academy, a program for Year 13 students. This initiative offers opportunities for personal development, with the added benefit of earning university credit. The session wrapped up with a Q&A session and a group photo, cementing the morning as a key moment in fostering the next generation of leaders.