My friend asked me last night why I wasn’t at the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Young Leaders Forum last week, as he and no doubt a number of them were expecting me to be there.
I have been busy making a difference, I said to him. Been at the Holi Festival at TelstraClear Pacific Event Centre and the Japan Day at ASB Showgrounds. Both of which were very well attended.
Apparently one of the discussion topic was how can the Young Leaders be part of governance and decision making. I said to him quiet honestly, you just need to do it. Having a group of people sitting around discussing and learning is the first step. However you can never be there if you don’t do it.
In my role as a member of the Ethnic Panel, I feel really privilleged to have that governance experience. I didn’t get into it with a lot of experiences, but I had a great understanding of governance through the management background I had. I also understand that if you are passionate about making a difference, acquire those skills, volunteer to get those governance experiences, and do it.
I am now able to make some differences. Perhaps a lot of what we do is just for the Council to tick the box. Perhaps we can’t change the world overnight. Perhaps we don’t really have that decision making power. Nonetheless, you make an effort to do it.
I have a wide range of ccontacts too – I let everyone know I am about to provide sound advice to them when needed. This could mean going beyond your comfort zone. This could mean providing advice to people without getting paid. All of which may frustrates you but allow you to put this on your CV that you have been an advisor.
Understand that being a young person it is not easy to get into governance level because people cannot see that you have the skills and the knowledege to provide advice. Get out there and prove to them that they are wrong. And start making a difference. Dreams stay in the bedroom, actions are what matters.
