Pictured: Anthony (bottom right) with his fellow Structuring for Success students in 2019
SSE alum Anthony Theofanidis was originally nervous to even apply to one of our programs. “I had this fear and initial doubts about not being suitable or academic enough,” he says. “This probably sat on my mind for 12 months.”
But when he applied and was accepted, he describes the experience as “super special”. “The day I got the phone call really transformed my confidence in going for things,” he says.
Since completing Structuring for Success with SSE, Anthony has continued to invest in his personal development and his confidence has grown even further. He was recently accepted into the Commonwealth100 program to help strengthen links between diverse regions and individuals, joining an elite group of international-focused young leaders.
“It’s just a small example of the continuous cycle of improvement SSE initiates for you,” he says
We sat down (virtually) with Anthony to get his thoughts on working remotely and starting your own business, as well as his advice for other young people looking to get started.
So after SSE, how did you get started in the world of entrepreneurship?
Initially, a friend who I met through SSE told me to leave my regular job and come help him launch his startup from his living room. The leap was super nerve-racking and felt potentially dangerous. However, something deep down inside me told me to do it.
What skills and capabilities do you think are most needed for today’s ever-changing job market?
Covid-19 has taught us all that businesses must be ready to deploy a new strategy within a matter of days. People are very much the same. We need to be agile, see forward, and react quickly but rationally. The world needs confident leaders who will not be afraid to get creative with new solutions to reinvent the way we do business.
Resilience is everything. If you fail, you are only better positioned to capitalise on the next opportunity out there.
Read Anthony's graduate bio.