Ryan is passionate about building an organization that delivers on the promises and expectations made to its students, university partners and its people.
ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ is fortunate enough to partner with some of the best universities in the region, so he believes it’s the team’s responsibility to showcase them well, to recruit students from around the world and to provide an enjoyable experience.
ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ has built a remarkably talented team, and Ryan sees himself as being responsible for clearing a path for them to be successful.
What do you bring to ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ as CEO, Australia & Asia Pacific?
I have over 20 years experience in the global online education space having worked in the UK, North American, and Australian markets. My background is in startups and entrepreneurially focused businesses, which has helped me to remain focused on what the company needs to do to in order to stay ahead. Outside of that, I bring an inherently positive outlook, some dreadful dad-jokes and a curious mind.
How do you measure your success?
Easy – if our students are enjoying their online experience and being successful, then we’ve done something right! It’s our job to put everything in place in order for that to happen. We’ve all been students at some stage and wished elements of the experience were better – now we’ve got the opportunity to do that for others beginning their journey.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in business?
I’ve got two that have stayed with me…
- Hire amazing people, and clear a path for them to be successful.
- Stop trying to fix your mistakes and desperately trying to improve what you intrinsically don’t enjoy. Focus on what you’re great at, what you love doing – and keep doing it, better.
What excites you about higher education?
That we’re finally focusing on customer experience as a necessity. For far too long, the student has been an afterthought in the customer experience journey. In every other online experience people have these days, they get amazing experiences – be it banking, ordering groceries, selecting music – it should be the same in education. It’s incumbent on us all to make everyone’s education experience spectacular.
If you found yourself stranded on a deserted island, what book would you wish you had?
‘First break all the rules’ by Marcus Buckingham.