On 1^stAugust, I celebrated my 13^th year with Young Enterprise. Wow! Where did the time go?

For those that know me well, you’ll know that I’ve had plenty of times during those years where I questioned whether it was time for me to go. Not because I loved the role or the organisation any less.  But because I didn’t want to be that person who stayed too long. You know - the one everyone says “she was great…..but she should have left sooner”.

During some of my times of inner turmoil, I received two great pieces of advice:

1.     You will know when the time is right; and

2.     The best time to leave is when things are at the best.

With those two pieces of wisdom in the back of my mind, I advised our Chair at the start of this year that I would step down at the end of the year.  Not because I’m ready to go or because I love the organisation any less.  But because the organisation is ready to fly without me for a number of reasons:

·      The team – is absolutely humming.  As individuals and as a team.  They pretty much run the organisation these days and I’m relegated to the role of coach, special projects manager and extra pair of hands.  They are the best team ever to help transition in a new CEO.

·      The board – is in a good position to support a new CEO.  I’ve been fortunate to have four amazing Chairs during my time and each has brought their own style of leadership, and each have supported me and the organisation in a different but equally valuable way.  But our current Chair has a unique skill.  As a principal, he’s well placed to help the organisation navigate working with schools given that (for now at least) schools are our primary way of reaching students.

·      The strategy – we have a really solid strategy and 1-page strategic narrative that everyone has bought into.  And we’ve added this year a 1-page change programme which helps everyone see where we need to put our focus, money and resources if we are going to achieve our lofty goals.  We’ve doubled our numbers in the last 10 years, and we’ve got a goal to double again in the next 5 years.

·      The funding – no, we’re not out of the woods and each year we are scrambling to get the funds we need.  But we’ve got a stable group of major sponsors, funders and donors and we’ve got a good amount in reserves to fund our Rangatahi Māori programme of work till the end of 2025.

I’m not a parent myself, but I imagine in every parent’s journey there becomes a time when you realise that your baby is ready to spread its wings and fly without you.  When I had that realisation, I knew it was time for me to hand over the reins and let the organisation and the current team fly to their own new heights.

The Board will run a formal process to identify the next CEO and will be considering both internal and external candidates.

I will stay on till the end of the year, mainly for selfish reasons as I’d love to see this year through and attend my final YES Nationals as CEO.  And to help transition in a new CEO.

As for me, my plan is to take four months off – traveling, playing tour guide for visiting family, hopefully getting in some fishing and other outdoor activities and generally enjoying the summer.  And then in May, I’ll start to think about what I want to do next.  I just hope I figure out something that I love a fraction as much as I have loved Young Enterprise.

To everyone who has been part of my journey, and part of YES’s journey, over the last 13 years – thank you. Thank you for your passion, for your support and for the impact you have made.  And thank you for allowing me to be the temporary guardian of this incredible movement.

Forever a YES raving fan

Terry

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For those that have asked about my farewell function – rather than having a separate event, I’m asking people to come to YES Nationals and make it he biggest Nationals of my 13 years.  Click here to purchase tickets.  I’d love to see you there!