In conversation with Mike Holland

Chamber member Lydia Carey and attendee at our Spotlight Supper with guest speaker Mike Holland, reflects on the evening... 

Having left my beautiful, warm, cosy bed at 5am this morning and, if I’m honest, it was in a slightly reluctant fashion, I pulled myself together and prepared to take on the world today… as I do most mornings!

Today for me was a marathon of meetings and I loved every single one of them. But one meeting stood out head and shoulders above the rest of them, and it was this evenings dinner hosted by the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce which really provided some inspiration for me and stirred up some ‘proper passion’!!

This evenings speaker was Mike Holland who is an inspiring, charismatic, switched on and clued up individual… with some real morals and principles.  And I must say that I was rather impressed by him!

He touched on several subjects this evening but I that found two points really struck a chord with me and left me feeling a little in awe!

His first point, which I advocate myself, was that he ‘actively’ encourages vocational learning methods for young people.  He seemed to believe that qualifications alone won’t guarantee you a job.  ”I hear that!’” I myself dropped out of college after just 3 months and have been a full time student at the university of life ever since… and I plan to stay here!  In my humble opinion, I support his views whole heartedly!

The second point that really inspired me was his triangular philosophy of combining Commerce, Charity and the Arts.  Mike clearly has a sense of community and I can’t help but wonder if this is something that many of us overlook – unintentionally of course, but could we do more?  Of course we could!

So I return home after another 18 hour day, and raise my glass to Mike Holland and the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce for the inspiration and humanity that they both provide!!

By Lydia Carey, Protalent

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