00:00Former president of Massey Holdings and now independent director and strategic advisor
00:06Gilles Warner delivered the feature address to the graduating class of 2025.
00:11When you go out into the workplace or look for jobs, pick people.
00:18Make your choices based on the people you will be working with, not the money they will pay you.
00:30I'm going to repeat that. Make your choice based on the people you're going to work with
00:37and not on the money they're going to pay you.
00:42Warner advised the 439 graduates to prioritize meaningful connections
00:47and positive environments over salary, noting that sometimes the places that pay you the most
00:53are the ones where you thrive the least. Find places where they like you,
00:58where they want to invest in you, where you will have fun, where you will make friends,
01:06where you will be happy to come to work in the morning.
01:09He explained that in such environments, graduates are more likely to succeed and grow.
01:14I know it's hard, particularly loans to pay off and all that kind of thing, but you know,
01:21best of both worlds is when you get, when the two intersect, sometimes they don't.
01:25Warner also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and self-care.
01:30We're in a world where the job of learning is never done. The world is constantly changing. Whether it's
01:39a new language, whether it's to paint, whether it is to program, whether it is more about a new country,
01:51keep challenging yourself on an ongoing basis to keep learning and don't forget to take care of yourself.
01:59He urged graduates to ensure that their career paths align with their life's purpose.
02:04Make sure you spend enough time thinking about that for yourself. As you go into interviews, etc.,
02:11sometimes we have to take a job that isn't perfectly aligned, but continue to seek that North Star.
02:19Do not let people diminish it.
02:22The 2025 valedictorian who graduated with a bachelor degree in education for primary school teachers
02:29encouraged her fellow graduates to use their new skills and knowledge to make a difference
02:35in the world. Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
