Be Present, Not Perfect: The Skill Driving Career Growth
Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical tools to help you let go of the pressure to “get everything right” and focus on the skill that truly drives growth, trust, and impact.
Join us for Connect and Develop webinar featuring Ollie Farnsworth, Chief Financial Officer at Tourism Holdings Limited.
Whether you’re just starting out, stepping into leadership, or navigating change mid-career, one skill stands out across every industry and career stage – and it’s not perfection. It’s presence.
In this lunchtime talk, University of Auckland alumnus Ollie Farnsworth shares the most powerful insight he’s gained – not from titles or technical expertise, but from unexpected places like improv theatre and real-world challenges: how to show up, engage fully, and respond with confidence when it matters most.
- Date: Tuesday 5 August
- Time: 12.15 – 1.00 pm
- Where: Online on Zoom
Speakers
Speaker: Ollie Farnsworth – Chief Financial Officer at Tourism Holdings Limited
As Chief Financial Officer at Tourism Holdings Limited (THL), Ollie Farnsworth leads a broad portfolio encompassing Finance, Digital, People, Transformation and ESG. A seasoned business leader with deep experience across strategy and operations, Ollie has held roles spanning consulting, creative services, startups, and corporate leadership. His global career has taken him from Auckland to Beijing, Shanghai, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York – shaping a diverse and dynamic perspective that informs his leadership today.
Ollie was named New Zealand Young Executive of the Year at the 2021 Deloitte Top 200 Awards in recognition of his innovative approach to cost-cutting and revenue generation for THL during the pandemic.
Outside the boardroom, Ollie has a surprising creative outlet: improvisational theatre. He credits his involvement in improv with sharpening his ability to navigate high-stakes environments, build trust, and embrace the unknown – one unscripted moment at a time.
MC: Chandni Sahrawat – Founder Goal Getters NZ, Director of Operations at Cassia, The French Cafe and Cassia at Home
Chandni Sahrawat is the Founder of Goal Getters life-coaching, business consulting and project management. She is the Co-founder and Director of Operations at award-winning hospitality businesses Cassia, Cassia at Home and Sid at the French Café and sits on the board of Heart of the City Auckland.
A seasoned entrepreneur, leader, and mentor with expertise in leadership development, strategic planning, operations management, and crisis navigation it was a natural next step for her to start her coaching practice earlier this year.
Through Goal Getters Chand guides individuals and organisations through transformation and growth with an approach built on real-world experience, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive in both business and life.
Chand holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Psychology, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Teaching. Originally from India, Chand is an outspoken advocate for better inclusion of migrants in the New Zealand labour force and has been recognised as a University of Auckland 40 Under 40 Humanitarian.
Brought to you by Alumni Connect
Get career tips from University of Auckland alumni (graduates) and network with your peers on our free online mentoring tool, Alumni Connect.