Vanguard Magazine

38 aPRiL/may 2016 www.vanguardcanada.com See the full interview online Q How did you start out in this industry and how has it brought you to where you are today? I've always been interested in enhancing human potential and was fortunate to transition from training Canadian soldiers in our Army to educating students at Fan- shawe College. Q What was your A-HA moment or epiphany that you think will resonate most with our reader, tell us that story. Imagine that the former Commander of the Canadian Army is coming to lead a college – there was a little apprehension in the halls. The College however, was very welcoming and I believe we both were in search of a different approach. A rebrand- ing effort was also underway and about six months after my arrival we launched our new brand and accompanying logo North Star. It was an incredibly powerful day because of the excitement and sym- bolism, and you could feel the pride and enthusiasm in the new direction – we had a shared vision for the future. Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? The ability to command respect is para- mount and the decisions I make are thus based on what I think is right for the or- ganization I serve. Q Step back and analyze your journey, what is the take away you want to give to our audience? People are at the centre of every organiza- tion … at the centre of both the Canadian Army and Fanshawe College. I believe you need to command the respect of the people in your organization. I admire the wisdom and experience of the faculty and the staff at the College, who in turn value the students who need to be nurtured and supported. That understanding creates confidence and trust, thereby allowing Fanshawe to excel. Q What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innovation mindset? Tesla embodies the innovation mindset. They are not just a carmaker, but a tech- nology company that is fundamentally changing the way we consider transporta- tion. From alternate energy to self-driving cars, they are a powerful example of dis- ruption, and I think that's increasingly important today—especially for colleges. As we head into an era that will be domi- nated by change, technological growth and globalization, colleges will need to form successful partnerships with busi- nesses and community organizations by offering access to a wide range of services, cutting edge technology and state-of-the- art facilities so that our students can adapt and keep pace with an ever-changing world. Q What are some of the biggest impediments to innovation in your orga- nization or industry sector? I believe there are two impediments to in- novation in the college sector: the belief that we already know the market and this contributes to static strategies; and the in- ability to liberate information thus limit- ing our ability to grow relationships with new and existing customers. Q What are the biggest impediments to innovation in today's enterprise? Whatever the industry, the biggest im- pediment to growth is status quo. I have a term that I call "SALY" – Same As Last Year. It's this tendency to do the same thing again with no imagination and no creativity. Q What technologies, business models, and trends will drive the biggest changes in your industry over the next two years? While the Web has been around for some- time now, we are leveraging it in new and powerful ways. We have such tremendous access to knowledge and this is changing the way people are learning. Knowledge is everywhere and we facilitate conversations and discussions that make learning come alive and inspires students. Another way colleges are trending—and Fanshawe in particular—is that we are becoming more integrated with industry. We have rich partnerships that include applied research with all sectors including manufacturing, technology, forestry, agricultural, energy, aerospace and defence. Q What is your parting piece of advice? Have the courage to lead because I believe all organizations seek leaders … especially ones who inspire and motivate with imag- ination, courage and integrity. Peter Devlin PResident fAnshAwe College

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