As you know I have been involved in the Royal Society for the Blind’s Young Business Leaders 08/09 program since July 2008. On Saturday 27th June came the culmination of those 10 months of hard work – the YBL Gala Dinner. This black tie event was held at the Stamford Grand Adelaide and I was lucky to be supported with 2 tables of family, friends and colleagues.

The night was brilliant, and I collected my Certificate IV in Frontline Management as well as my finalists trophy. The highlight was when I was honoured to be awarded as YBL’s Second Highest Fundraiser. I got the chance to get on stage and say my thankyou’s… I view this as a pretty big privilege. The fundraising component of the program was not something I ever imagined myself winning in the beginning, but it became something I loved doing and really enjoyed. Just read back through my earlier blog entries and you can probably pick up my nervousness. But then you can see how I started getting events underway… and bit by bit picked up confidence as I saw things working.

As I said in my winner’s speech, fundraising for the RSB was an absolute pleasure because they are so well respected, and they have touched the lives of many people. Alongside the RSB, I have been backed by the best company in Capgemini Business Services – with fantastic Leaders – and the most supportive colleagues I could ask for. I’ve also had individuals and companies along the way donate their time, advice, products and services towards individual events to make them successful. Their logos are in the earlier pages of this blog – please support them.

I raised a total of $13,500 and together with the other YBL finalists we raised $135,000 for the RSB. Not bad when you consider the required funds to be raised is $4,000 and we weren’t even sure how we were going to do that at the beginning!

Other awards were presented on the night and I am very proud of all of the winners.

Young Business Leader – Brian Sheedy, Adelaide Showgrounds
Achievement Award – Emma Owen, Commonwealth Bank
Encouragement Award – Mathew McCarthy, RAA of SA Inc
Highest Fundraiser – Tegan Webb, Spring Gully Foods
2nd Highest Fundraiser – yours truly, Capgemini
3rd Highest Fundraiser –Anna Ruszkiewicz, SA Water

It’s been a huge program requiring a lot of commitment, and even to call ourselves YBL finalists is to be successful. I’ve made some awesome friends and great networks. Everyone who knows me can see how the YBL program has changed me – in a professional sense at work – but on a personal level too. For me, this is the part that brings real happiness.

Bring on the next challenges. I’ve had a wonderful month overseas enjoying the amazing Thailand – now back at work fullsteam. I’m hitting the study again, going to upgrade my Certification IV in Frontline Management into a Diploma in Management… will be focusing on the HR aspects mostly in line with my career goals.

Following are some shots from the gala evening… enjoy!

Strange feeling today… the first morning since July that I’ve woken up with no YBL work on my to-do list. Obviously I don’t count organising tables for the gala dinner as work!

Yesterday morning is now a bit of a blur, I delivered my presentation to the 4 YBL judges & the Marketing Manager of the RSB just after 9am. I’m pretty pleased with how it all went, the practice sessions that I’d had with members of Capgemini really paid off helping me to control my nerves. In a sense, I’d already tested the presentation on 2 seperate groups – so I knew that the structure flowed properly, and that I made sense.

The judges were really nice, I was so pleased to finally get some feedback on my reports! It’s almost like you work really hard for 10 months just by the guidance of your mentor and whomever else you seek out – - but sometimes you’re just not sure whether you’re making the right calls on things. Yesterday was a nice reminder of the fact that we’ve all done a great job to get to where we are!

Spoke with a few other participants, we all are singing the same tune – judges were great, feedback was welcomed and a general sense of crazy relief that this is all done.

Now the biggest challenge we have ahead is co-ordinating the dress, shoes, handbag & accessories (anyone who knows me well knows this is NOT my strong point) and heading to the Stamford Grand on Sat 27th June to celebrate our achievements. And damn, we all really deserve that night. Can’t wait. Congratulations everyone!

So the final piece in the YBL puzzle is a presentation to the 4 judges. It’s worth a good portion of my mark and I do want to get it right. I guess I can safely say that I’ve never been this prepared for a presentation before. Which is weird, and totally unlike me (the old me). In fact, this whole YBL thing has really changed the way I approach everything I do. Sounds cliched, but it’s true.

When I was pulling together the key points that I wanted to focus on for the judges who’ll be looking for the ‘Young Business Leader’ of the year, I realised I had a lot of learnings & growth in things that I wasn’t even aware were a part of Leadership. Because being a leader isn’t just about team building and making decisions on behalf of people and project management. It’s about relationships and planning and discipline and values and celebration and passion and authenticity. But it’s more than that too. I guess it’s hard to put your finger on, but when you meet a great leader – you absolutely know it. You can tell from speaking to those close to them, to the guys in their team, to their peers.

Man, have I learnt a lot in 10 months. I think that’s really my main point for the judges – and those of you who know me well would testify to the fact that the Amber you knew 1 year ago is nothing like the Amber you know now. And that’s not a bad thing (I don’t think I liked that other Amber anyway).

When my dad came up to me the other day and put his arm around my shouders and said ‘hey amber, y’know, it’s so good to see you happy. Your eyes are happy and you look well. I’m really proud of you’ – that moment right there was worth everything. It’s worth the extra time at my desk, worth the tired eyes, worth the mess in my spare room and the limiting social life, it’s worth the effort and the stress and the tears. Thanks Dad.

So that’s what I’m going to tell the judges on Tuesday morning. Because that’s really all I need to say.

It’s been a tough few weeks as I’ve worked to pull together the 10 months into Executive Reports for the YBL judges.. but it’s finally done.

I’ve handed up my exec report on my business improvement project, which is a ‘Leadership Insight Knowledge Base’. I still have some work to do in launching the pilot to Capgemini but it’s looking pretty tidy right now.

The exec report on my community involvement project – the fundraising component – was much easier to write as I’d done such a broad range of events. In fact, it was a challenge to bring it down to 10 pages, but I’ve done it.

I think the trick with the writing of these reports is to focus on the learnings rather than on the proceedings. I’ve also tried to make mine fairly easy and interesting reading, threading pictures and anecdotes through them while still retaining the professional edge.

Well, it’s done now – have handed them up along with my folder of evidence for the Cert IV Frontline Management component.. the RSB has back all of their colleciton units & merchandise.. some final tidying of banking monies to sort out, then really it’s nearly over.

The final piece in the YBL process is the 20 minutes presentation which I will give to 3 YBL judges. My date is June 9th so I’ve got time up my sleeve to prepare. I’ve been reading presentation books and watcing other good speeches, trying to work out how best to impress and get my story across. Will let you know how I go later on… for now, I’m going to enjoy my first Saturday in a long time without having to plan, wrap prizes or count money!

When people talk about a Krispy Kreme doughnut, they’re usually referring to the signature, Original Glazed doughnut, made from a recipe dating back to the 1930s. And if you haven’t had an Original Glazed Doughnut FRESH off the line, you really need to try one!  They’re not a doughnut, they’re an experience.

So, order yours today, you can feel great (as you experience the massive sugar high!) knowing the profits raised go directly to The Royal Society for the Blind.

WHAT’S HAPPENING? The YBL Monster Krispy Kreme Run

COST: Original Glaze Krispy Kremes are available at $18.00 per boxed dozen

WHEN: Orders and payment to Amber are required by Thursday 14 May…. Doughnuts will be delivered on Friday 22 May to Capgemini offices, 55 Grenfell Street

HOW? Fill out the form below and submit, I’ll be in contact with further details.