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Entrepreneur encourages graduates to explore the unknown
James Sanders, Senior Innovation Analyst, Innovation Program with Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu, RMIT University alumni and Richmond resident, is one of the
keynote speakers at RMIT’s Graduation Ceremony tonight at Melbourne’s Etihad
Stadium.
Mr Sanders graduated with distinction from the Bachelor of Business
(Entrepreneurship) at RMIT in 2007, winning the prestigious RMIT Institute Award.
His advice to this year’s latest RMIT graduates is: “Please, don’t be afraid to follow
a path less travelled, to apply your skills in an unexpected field or way, to make
decisions that those around you have not or don’t understand.
“Be a leader and an explorer of the unknown. Don’t be a passenger in your life who
is afraid to take risks or make difficult decisions.”
During his time at RMIT, Mr Sanders started a business called The Hive with a
group of his university friends – three of whom are graduating tonight.
“The Hive started as a business to connect current and past students of my
Entrepreneurship degree. However, this quickly grew and we broadened our
ambitions to connecting all entrepreneurs,” Mr Sanders said.
Since The Hive started in February 2008, it has grown to more than 3,000
members, with monthly events in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. So far The
Hive has featured successful business people and entrepreneurs from the retail,
technology and restaurant industries.
During his studies, Mr Sanders completed a six-month pilot program between
RMIT and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, within the Deloitte Innovation Unit, and was
invited to join the company. Since then, he has gone from student participant to
running the Deloitte Innovation project two years in a row.
The RMIT Graduation Ceremony takes place from 7.30pm at Etihad Stadium,
Melbourne Docklands, with 5,600 students graduating and more than 28,000
people attending the spectacular event.
For interview or comment: Senior Innovation Analyst, Innovation Program,
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, James Sanders, 0402 305 307.
For general media enquiries, RMIT University Communications, Deborah
Sippitts, (03) 9925 3116 or 0429 588 869.
16 December, 2009
NEWS 
