MBA Masterclass series kicks off with guest speaker, Dr Ian Lovegrove
The MBA Masterclass series kicked off on Thursday 9th February with a talk from Dr Ian Lovegrove, “Antarctica – leading and living in close confines.”
Ian worked with the British Antarctic Survey for nearly ten years, both as a field guide and as the Station Manager of a scientific station in Antarctica, where the isolated nature of the region presents unique challenges for leaders. His outstanding service in Antarctica was recognised by the Queen awarding him the ‘Polar Medal’ and through the approved naming of ‘Lovegrove Point’, in the British Antarctic Territory.
Before his work in Antarctica, he focused predominately on leader development, both in the outdoors and in more conventional environments. Post-Antarctic activity saw him working with the University of Manchester and in the Netherlands, on an Executive MBA in Facilities Management, validated by IPE, Paris. This work was progressed through his ‘Global Leader Initiatives’ organisation, which focuses on leader development.
He has designed and delivered courses for senior managers from the Chinese State-Owned oil and gas company (SINOPEC), to acquaint them with Western styles of management and, amongst other organisations, has worked with Rolls Royce, the Home Office, Outward Bound Trust, Matalan and URENCO.
Ian’s talk explored leadership in different environments, looking at how to adapt leadership style to suit changing situations. The focus of his talk was on becoming a better leader. He said: “reality was yesterday. Don’t think in today’s terms. You have to be prepared for the future in Antarctica and this can apply in every day life”.