Polar adventurer breaks ice on student potential

Jamie Fitzgerald talks to young leaders at Hamilton Girls’ High School as part of his leadership sessions.

International rower, polar adventurer and former Waikato University student Jamie Fitzgerald visited Hamilton Girls’ High School earlier this month to inspire its young leaders.

Mr Fitzgerald, who graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Communication Studies in 2004, held a session with Hamilton Girls’ High School year 12 students who had been identified as potential leaders and achievers. It is one of many school visits around the Waikato and in Tauranga in August and September.

As part of a partnership with Waikato University the programme, Reaching Peak Performance: The Edge of Stretch, aims to build on the students’ achievements to date and equip them with planning and analytical skills to take their talents further.

The half-day sessions involve students creating a road map of goals and learning how to approach and assess their goals analytically.

“Success is the result of stretching ourselves – thinking the options through analytically, backing our judgement, adapting proven processes, and believing in our ability,” Mr Fitzgerald says.

As well as the University of Waikato Mr Fitzgerald has also partnered with Saatchi and Saatchi’s Kevin Roberts to deliver the leadership sessions in schools.

Mr Fitzgerald works as a consultant for management consultancy business ON-Brand Partners.