Car boss motivates pupils
CEO talks to St Bart’s sixth-form about business, careers and ambition
“YOU can do whatever you want to do, but you have got to want to do it” were the words that businessman and adventurer Kevin Gaskell used to inspire sixth form pupils in Newbury.
The chief executive of four successful world-class brands stopped at St Bartholomew’s School earlier this month to open up discussions with young people surrounding business, careers and ambition.
Climbing Mount Everest, walking to both the North and South Poles and rowing the Atlantic are just some of the achievements that made him the perfect speaker for the school’s enrichment programme, which seeks to inspire students with the “breadth of opportunities” available to them following on from academic study.
Year 12 pupil Cai Ramsay called Mr Gaskell’s talk “really interesting and full of good advice”.
He said: “I definitely took away the idea of having an end goal that enables you to focus on what you want to achieve.”
The pupils had the opportunity to sit with Mr Gaskell and hear his views on the importance of preparation, mindset and passion – as well as hearing about his life story.
They also were given an insight into the three stages that have underlined his success, which he names as “commit, connect and create”.
Mr Gaskell said: “It was a pleasure to speak with the students from St Bart’s, who were keen to understand how to develop their own plans as they consider the careers they would like to follow.
“The questions and discussion showed that the students were engaged and enthusiastic about the lessons and principles of success that I shared.”
He also spoke to the students about his Smarter Britain initiative, which aims to introduce students to the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The initiative seeks to support innovators, accelerate economic prosperity and get concepts quickly to market through showcasing new ideas, highlighting progress and bringing ideas to investors.
Sixth form year leader James Wilder said: “We were delighted to welcome Kevin to St Bart’s.
“His journey proves that our students should never set limits on their future ambitions and plans.
“I hope that they went away enthused and considering their own interests and passions.”
The school has another enrichment speaker lined up, to share their story with the students soon.
I definitely took away the idea of having an end goal that enables you to focus on what you want to achieve