How many students can boast that their first university assignment prompted an impressive job offer from retail billionaire, Gerry Harvey? Southern Cross University Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate, Andrew Nichols still shakes his head at the surreal moment that would shape his leadership values.
In 2009, Andrew, like many high school leavers, didn't have a clear vision for his future, so initially bypassed university and started his career on the sales floor with retail juggernaut, Harvey Norman in his hometown, Brisbane.
"As a teenager, you learn a lot about people through sales; how to interact, manage expectations and how to read situations," Andrew said.
The corporate world beckoned and Andrew rose to the position of Corporate Administration Manager, remarkably, while still in his teens.
Seeking to climb further still, the ambitious youngster heeded two pieces of advice from his then supervisor and mentor - don't be afraid to change companies, and be sure to get a formal qualification.
"I had a great conversation with the team at Southern Cross University about my options," he said.
Due to his work experience, Andrew was admitted to the Graduate Diploma in Business, without prior study.
Over six years, he went on to complete a Graduate Diploma and his Master of Business Administration.
"With Southern Cross, I got the feeling they are not just signing you up for courses, they genuinely want you to get across the finish line," he said.
"It was a steep learning curve, but you should always get out of your comfort zone, and the University was so encouraging."
"That's what makes the University so great. When your work is of a professional standard, Learning Advisers encourage you to put it forward."
That's just what happened when Andrew received glowing feedback on his first university assignment - a marketing strategy.
"I sent it to the Executive Assistant for Harvey Norman Chairman, Gerry Harvey," he said, "and thought, 'what have I got to lose?'"
An hour later, the phone rang.
"She said, 'I've got Gerry on the phone for you,' and I thought 'What have I done!'", Andrew recalled.
"He said, 'I've read it, and you'd better fly down here and come to see me'. All thanks to Southern Cross University, I ended up in the Chairman's office!"
With a goal to work in Sydney, Andrew declined Harvey's franchisee job offer, but their conversation continues to impact his career.
He joined Woolworths Supermarkets in Sydney, later becoming Category Manager at Big W and recently Commercial Manager for Everyday Rewards.
The moment Andrew's resignation email hit Gerry Harvey's inbox, the Harvey Norman boss picked up the phone.
"He said, 'I wish you the best. They're lucky to have you.'"
"The thing I admire in leaders, including those I've worked with at Woolworths, is when they value someone's effort and time, when they stop their diary and reach out to connect," he said.
As Andrew's career took off, his choice to study with Southern Cross continued to pay off.
"I travelled a lot with my work, and was often just sitting in hotels," he said. "So, SCU Online was perfect for me to balance study and work."
He praised the flexibility of the courses that allowed him to hit the pause button whenever his workload increased - like the time, over dinner with friends, he and his partner Liam decided to launch their own luxury fragrance brand, Mr Hux.
"There were many sleepless nights trying to juggle an executive job with multiple assignments at the pointy end of a master's degree, while also preparing to launch our own company," he said. "That is when you know what busy is."
With a brain for numbers, Andrew happily leaves the creative side of the business to Liam and their brand ambassador, Huxley, one of two pampered russet-coloured Hungarian Vizsla pups in the household.
"Eighteen months on, when you see people buying your product, giving good feedback, and with five stockists around the country, it's all worth it," he said.
Andrew plans to pursue, at 'full throttle', both the fragrance business and his Senior Executive ambitions, supported by some pretty powerful leadership mentors, and his life-changing Southern Cross MBA experience.
