Business lessons I’ve learned

What was your first job?

I was a Sunday morning paper boy for my local newsagent.

When would you like to retire?

I can’t imagine retirement; I think I need to be active in both body and mind.

What did you have for breakfast?

Banana on toast.

Who, or what, inspires you?

My children, Stefano and Sofia. They smile every day and make everyone around them experience joy. They are an inspiration.

What’s the last book you read / film you saw?

Paul Bertolotto, Assistant Principal, Preschool and Elementary, International School (ISA)

What does your company do that others don’t?

Given my experience in over 100 other schools and universities, I can honestly say that I’ve not been in another school that provides such a holistic experience and care for children. Children at ISA experience their learning through real life meaningful engagement with their community. It is from these experiences, and the support network available, that learners (in my opinion) gain and retain their learning most successfully. As an ISA staff member, I feel very privileged to work and learn with such an inspirational team.

What are the most pressing challenges that your industry sector faces today, and why?

This is an interesting question. Many of my colleagues will point to the 4/5-year political cycle that impacts upon education and often reprioritises key approaches/ strategies. Others may point to the impact of CV19 on children and the fact that so many were deprived of the social dynamic at such an early age. For me, the main challenge has and always will be differentiation. A commitment to ensuring that children are given experiences that both challenge and inspire them is the most challenging, yet most rewarding, part of my role at ISA.

What is the hardest lesson you have learned in your career to date?

In teaching I feel it important to recognise that, irrespective of your experience, there is always something to learn from and to experience yourself. Admitting to children, who are aged between 3 and 12, that you simply don’t know the answer to their question (YET!) is often an extremely difficult thing to do and to witness in the child who considers you the fountain of all knowledge. The key word for me is ‘yet’. The challenge is then to learn closely with the child to ensure that we find the answer to that wonderful question and that I help model a positive approach to lifelong learning (even if I am an old man).

What is the most valuable piece of business advice you have ever received?

This piece of valuable advice came from my father when I was a young adult. My father, a successful businessman himself, shared the contextual wisdom of the need to ‘speculate in order to accumulate’. I feel that whether taken literally or metaphorically this is such a powerful message. Be prepared to work hard in order to gain the rewards of your labour.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Sonic 2 (My movie watching is now heavily influenced by Stefano and Sofia).

What’s been your proudest career achievement to date, and why?

My career is an interesting one. I have lectured at Edinburgh University and I have been a Head Teacher of an independent school. I must state however that my proudest achievement was becoming the Assistant Principal to Mr Kajiwara of the PreSchool and Elementary at ISA. Both Mr Kajiwara and Mr Little (The Head of School) are the most inspiring educationalists that I have had the good fortune to work with. They possess the very rare blend of theoretical knowledge coupled with a genuine child-centred approach. ISA is definitely the place for me.

Vanguard idea comes to life as large letters land in Castlegate

Creating cool social media content will be easy as A-B-Z for visitors and locals alike, after Aberdeen’s new landmark giant letters popped up overnight at the city’s Castlegate.

The letters, which spell out ABERDEEN, stand around 2m tall and are illuminated by 98,000 light bulbs, 750m of cables and 69,850 microchips.

Manufactured here in Aberdeen, the letters have in-built interactive technology to allow them to feature animated digital displays and change colour to celebrate holidays and events.

The project has been funded and led by city centre BID Aberdeen Inspired, which will manage the letters, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, VisitAberdeenshire and the Scottish Government’s Scotland Loves Local fund, administered through Scotland’s Towns Partnerships.

The idea was drawn up by city business leaders to help encourage visitors to the city centre, as well as positively promoting the city on social media platforms such as Instagram.

The Aberdeen Letters project has been developed from an idea that emerged through Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s Vanguard initiative, to encourage creative suggestions for the future of the region.

The letters will be located at the Castlegate with Union Street as its backdrop, but have been designed to be detachable and able to be moved to different locations around the city.

Created by local design and fabrication firm, Luxous Group, it is hoped the letters will become a must-have feature to welcome visitors and delegates to conferences, festivals, graduations and other events.

Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said the letters would broaden Aberdeen’s offering and enhance the city centre as a destination for cruise passengers and national and international tourists, including visitors to the European Pipe Band Championships this June and the Tall Ships in 2025, as well as locals keen to show off their home.

He said: “We are delighted to see the Aberdeen Letters project reach fruition and be unveiled to the public and we hope to see lots of people visiting the letters to snap a photo for their social media channels while they are spending time in the shops, bars, restaurants and taking in a show or exhibition,”.

“Many cities around the world already have similar schemes and they have become a ‘must-do’ for visitors but we hope that different animations being displayed from the letters, as well as being moveable, takes the concept a step further and will ensure the letters remain a unique focal point for that perfect Instagram picture.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to support the regeneration of Union Street and the Our Union Street initiative, we are keen to create new reasons to visit the city centre and encourage footfall.”

David Edgar, from the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Group, said: “All of the Vanguard team, who helped to shape the plans, are delighted to see that the Aberdeen Letters have become reality on the streets of our city.

“We want these signs to be a bright symbol of the new Aberdeen, helping define our international identity. We’ve seen from other cities, such as Toronto, Gdansk, Amsterdam and Brisbane, that these signs often become a top tourist attraction, because visitors and locals alike want to share a ‘selfie’ in front of them. This will help Aberdeen reach places it otherwise wouldn’t on the feeds of the thousands of people visiting our city centre every year.

“The choice of materials for the sign tie very nicely in with the heritage of Aberdeen while the displays on the letters will help promote the cool, modern and vibrant city that we are.”

The letters were part-funded by the Scottish Government’s Scotland Loves Local Fund, administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), which spearheads the wider Scotland Loves Local campaign.