The CEO Magazine Australia — November 2017

theceomagazine.com | 53

The University of Otago’s vice-chancellor, Harlene Hayne,

has seen her ambition for herself, as well as the entire

university, evolve beyond all expectations.

WORDS SIMONE HENDERSON-SMART • IMAGES UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

A

s Harlene Hayne sees it, one of the real challenges for universities in the

twenty-first century is the need to move away from a utilitarian view that

students come to study with an idea in mind about the job they are going

to have at the end. “When I look back on my own career, I certainly did

not go to university with the idea that I would become a university

vice-chancellor,” she muses. “I had no idea what a vice-chancellor was.

Instead, I found what I love to do and I did it to the best of my ability, and that’s really

where all of my subsequent professional opportunities have come from.” Indeed, having

begun university with a plan to study Spanish, Harlene’s career path has been shaped by

her ability to shift perspective and take in a broader view of things, as well as by a love

of psychology and understanding the way people think.

LEADER.”

“I was a really

RELUCTANT

Interview | INSPIRE