Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Michael Boddington (1984) recently returned to Blackfriars to address the Entrepreneurship and Innovation class. Michael who has lived in China for the last 20 years was keen to share his professional and entrepreneurial experience to explain how a Black’s Boy ended up establishing and running three successful businesses in China. Two of Michael’s businesses are related to his qualifications and professional experience – agriculture.

• Asian Agribusiness Recruitment, Training & Development (AARTD)
• Asian Agribusiness – agricultural consulting and research

Recently Michael established a whiskey trading company importing whiskey from Scotland into China which is expanding rapidly.

Michael literally started at the bottom with his first graduate job after studying at Roseworthy (Adelaide University). His first job required him to shovel pig manure which might seem a little strange for a University graduate. However, Michael did not think so and explained to the boys that they should never be too proud to complete menial tasks and sometimes the only way to fully gain an understanding of an industry is to have experience at the ‘ground’ level where you get to interact with the people who know the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the industry. After a couple of months he was no longer required to use that shovel! After a few years working in different parts of Australia he worked in the Philippines and then on to China which became his permanent home and a place he loves for its energy, excitement and opportunities. He worked his way up, then seized the moment to branch out on his own and develop and mould his own service businesses.

Michael’s advice to the boys was to be aware of the emerging prospects and growing market of China. He impressed upon them the advantages in learning to speak Chinese and to discover and appreciate Chinese culture. In a world with a rapidly growing population to feed challenged by diminishing arable land and fresh water, the opportunities for an entrepreneur to solve problems in agriculture are endless.

He advised the boys to find what really interests them and look for pathways and opportunities in that field. Whatever this passion is might not be something that they realise for several years but when they recognise it they should embrace it. Michael also stressed that to get the attention of successful people you need to be an interesting and fun person with diverse interests. He explained an early job interview he had when first moving to China where he was asked what book he was reading at the time! Michael mentioned the power of personality. People who are fun to be around and make others feel valued and worthwhile will attract the best people to them as they will want to work in that environment. Having the best people alongside you is the spring board to success.

We feel very privileged that Michael made the time to come and speak to us during his short visit to Adelaide. He had flown in the night prior to seeing us and flew out only five days later. He certainly gave the boys a lot to think about, and he modelled how to effectively present to an audience which the boys can draw upon for their own pitch at the showcase evening on Thursday 14 June.

Ms Kathleen Johnson

CURRICULUM LEADER - HUMANITIES