NWHS STUDENTS TOLD TO PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS BY LEADING NORFOLK IT ENTREPRENEUR

Develop your communications skills, play to your strengths, and be prepared to change direction – these were among the tips given to Year 8 students at North Walsham High School during an inspirational presentation by a leading Norfolk entrepreneur.

Matt Lennie, who is now lead analytics and data management advisory consultant at Hewlett Packard Enterprises, was at the school to share his experiences with students, and to give advice about how to succeed in life.

Mr Lennie, whose early ambitions to be a doctor were dashed after a serious car crash meant he couldn’t take up a place at medical school, told how he built on a Saturday job selling computers at Dixons to create a successful career in IT. 

After an apprenticeship at Norwich Union, he started his own IT consultancy in 2004, a business which went on to achieve a multi-million pound turnover.  He sold the company in 2013, and joined Hewlett Packard Enterprise as an employee in 2013, a role which sees him travel all over the world.

“You have to play to your strengths,” he told students.  “For example, I was always terrible at English, and found spelling and grammar difficult, but I discovered I could present reports just as well in graphical form, which was something I was good at.

“But the most important skill in life and in business is being good at communicating.  The ability to speak to a customer, interact with a colleague, present to an audience is my most valuable skill.  Being able to have a conversation, listen to what someone is telling you and interpret what they are saying, will take you all the way.”

Mr Lennie told the students that they might sometimes end up in a ‘rubbish’ job – but that they should use that as a development opportunity, citing the way he used his Saturday shop job as a platform for his later career.

“You also have to be prepared to change direction unexpectedly,” he said.  “My car crash meant that I had to completely rethink the career in medicine that I had always planned, but I firmly believe that I am better off now than if I had followed that initial plan.”

NWHS assistant head Paul Clark commented, “It is really important for students to hear from people who have succeeded in the real world, and especially when their paths to success have taken unexpected turns.

“Hearing stories like Matt’s is very inspirational for young people; they realise that there are lots of ways to achieve in life, and that the path to success is not always smooth. 

“Hearing from speakers like Matt helps raise the aspirations of all our students.  It makes them realise that whilst academic qualifications are of course important, there are many other skills they need to learn if they want to follow their dreams."

“We would very much welcome anyone who thinks they could inspire our students as part of our Inspirational Speakers programme to contact us.”