Aptitude for business takes Ben to Columbia
James Hargest College student Ben McIntyre is one of 24 New Zealand students who will travel to South America for business studies.
McIntyre has received a Massey University scholarship and won the trip to Columbia at the Entrepreneurs in Action business competition.
He was the only Southlander at the competition in Wellington held recently. Eighty Year 12-13 students involved in the Young Enterprise Scheme from throughout the country were chosen to take part.
They were split into 10 teams for three challenges, which included implementing new technology into a business, a high tech agricultural programme in South America, and business planning.
Not knowing anyone at the competition didn’t concern Ben.
‘‘I wasn’t out of my comfort zone too much,’’ he said.
‘‘We had to get to know each other [in the team] and find out people’s strength ... there was a lot of time management.’’
A business plan had to be written, a PowerPoint presentation to judges made and speaking on video about their strategies were required. McIntyre got two hours’ sleep one night as he and his teammates worked into the early hours of the morning.
The work of all students was assessed, with 24 selected for one of three business study trips to Chile, Columbia or Brazil later this year or early in 2019. McIntyre was rapt to hear his named called out.
‘‘I really enjoyed the competition ... it was something different and certainly challenging.’’
James Hargest business teacher Paul Redmond said the competition was a pathway for McIntyre to mix with like-minded students who had the potential to be future leaders.
For McIntyre, 17, to be selected to study businesses in Columbia was a great opportunity, Redmond said.
To gain an insight into how Columbian businesses operate and to experience South American culture would be extremely beneficial to the teenager, Redmond added.
‘‘Ben’s got real aptitude and passion for business and to get the opportunity to network with like-minded people is great.’’
McIntyre also won an economics competition, conducted by the government’s treasury department, in June.