On Monday 20 July, the Ivy Ballroom buzzed with excitement as students and their families, teachers, alumni, industry representatives and supporters of Macquarie Business School gathered to celebrate the Dean’s Excellence Awards.

Warmly emceed by Deputy Dean Education and Employability Professor Yvonne Breyer, the evening was an opportunity to reflect on academic achievement and celebrate learning in all its forms – young and old, at university and beyond. It comes at a time when students are navigating the end of their academic journey and looking toward their careers.

Professor Leonie Tickle, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School, introduced this year’s theme, 'The curious leader: Learning as leadership' and encouraged students to take this philosophy with them as they navigate the world.

“At a time when industries are evolving rapidly, and the pace of change is accelerating beyond what we anticipated was possible, growth-oriented leadership has never been more important,” said Professor Tickle.

Drawing on her own personal journey that started at Macquarie University as an Actuarial Studies student, Professor Tickle told students that the moments that shaped her own path were the ones where she followed her curiosity, listened to her inner voice and took unexpected opportunities.

The power of a growth mindset

This year’s keynote speaker, UniSuper’s Chief Executive Officer Peter Chun inspired the audience with his reflections on the power of a growth mindset.

“As AI reshapes every industry, leadership fundamentals are shifting towards the qualities that universities have always championed: curiosity, a growth mindset and lifelong learning,” Peter said.

“The most effective leaders recognise these qualities not as optional, but as leadership imperatives. Curiosity drives innovation, while the ability to unlearn, relearn and adapt, matters more than holding any one skill.”

Peter’s examples from his own leadership at UniSuper and from great leaders at top companies challenged students to stay away from a ‘know it all’ mindset and instead adopt a ‘learn it all’ way of thinking.

Celebrating student’s resilience and hard work

Alumna Sienna Austin, who now works in brands and licensing for Bluey at BBC Studios, reminded students that often the best achievements come from curiosity, play and a love of discovering new things.

Her story of studying during a pandemic while also navigating the loss of her Mum demonstrated that no matter how many twists and turns life throws at you, there are always opportunities to be brilliant.

“One of the greatest gifts this University gave me was showing me that there is no single way to be intelligent, creative or successful,” Sienna said.

“Continuing to learn is one of the most humbling and important things we can do. Because when you place yourself in an unfamiliar situation again, when you become a beginner again, you develop empathy, resilience and perspective. You remember what it feels like to not know all the answers and that growth often comes from being willing to begin before you feel fully ready.”

Not just a piece of paper, but a boost of confidence

To students, these awards are not just a piece of paper. They provide “an extra bit of credibility” as they begin their professional careers.

Chau Anh Cong, the recipient of the Billigence Prize for the best performance in the Bachelor of Business Analytics described the feeling of pride and excitement.

“The very first thing I did was call my parents to share the news! Winning this award is a wonderful validation of the hard work I have put into my studies and it means the world to share that joy with the people who supported me along the way."

Joel Denning, the winner of the Alf and Pearl Pollard Memorial Prize for excellence in Actuarial Studies and the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies Prize, shared what the recognition means for future employment.

“I see this recognition as encouragement to continue striving for excellence in all that I do now and into my working life. The award itself is a meaningful achievement and certainly demonstrates to future employers my dedication and perseverance.”

Congratulations to all the student award recipients and thank you to our partners for their generous support of the next generation of graduates.