Short Bio of Speaker

Peter began his career in a large international accounting firm, only to find out very quickly that accounting was not for him. Much to the surprise of his friends and family he left his corporate post to clean toilets in a Pub. Within 18 months Peter was the General Manager of a multi million dollar Sydney Hotel, with over 30 staff. It was during this time that Peter discovered that many young employees were struggling to make a successful transition from education to work. Specifically, they were not able to effectively apply their skills and talents in a way that was profitable for the business, nor were they fully engaged in the work place. It was this that inspired Peter to start his own business developing the potential of tomorrow's business leaders.

Since then Peter has worked with over 100,000 Gen Y-ers in more than 1,250 workshops, seminars and focus groups across Australia. It is this real world experience, and the fact that he is a Gen Y-er himself that enables Peter to help corporations attract, engage and manage the best of Generation Y talent. Peter continues to work with this generation, both in an educational and corporate setting, ensuring his research and advice is both up to date and relevant, and it is this that many of his clients value the most.

A best selling Author, Peter's fourth commercially published book "Generation Y: Thriving (and Surviving) with Generation Y at Work" was released in June 2005. This is the first Australian published and written book on Generation Y, and the first in the world actually written by a member of the generation. It is a combination of Peter's research and a series of Australian best practice case studies, which will offer timely solutions for managers and HR professionals to what is potentially a very challenging business issue. Peter's other books are written directly for Generation Y and focus on maximising their performance at school and making the smooth transition from study to work. His first book Mastering the HSC sold 4,000 copies in its first month, and led to the development of 2 DVD learning programs: Career Options and Stress & Time Management.

In 2003 he was named the MBN NSW Young Entrepreneur of the Year as well as winning the National Emerging Business of the Year award. The same year Ernst & Young nominated him in their International Entrepreneur of the Year awards, clearly demonstrating that Peter knows what it takes to be successful in the new business world. Peter's business success and his youthful energy enable him to communicate directly to Generation Y in a way they respect and can relate to. It is this special ability that enables him to design and deliver such effective talent development and leadership programs for his clients.

Peter's clients include corporate giants such as The Commonwealth Bank, Panasonic and Woolworths Limited, as well as Government divisions including the Department of Education, Science and Training and the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet. He has also collaborated with some of Australia's most respected educational providers including TAFE Queensland, the University of Technology Sydney and Deakin University.

The quality of Peter's work has led to him being featured on Channel Nine's A Current Affair and SBS Insight. He has been profiled in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Daily Telegraph and in the Weekend Australian, and is a regular commentator on radio including stations 2UE, 2GB, ABC and 3AK. The Sydney Morning Herald even went so far as saying "You can almost feel the adrenaline coursing through Peter Sheahan's veins. He is pumped up, passionate and animated. It is this infectious energy that has caught the attention of the thousands that have heard him speak. "

Topics

TOPIC:
Understanding the Mindset of Generation Y

Generation Y are the 4.5 million Australians born between 1978 and 1994. They are currently the most influential consumer and employee group in the country.  They’re answering our phones, serving our customers and selling to our clients. Actually, they are our customers and clients and probably sold you your phone.  And for some of us, they are even our kids.

But how can we properly manage or service this generation if we do not understand them? Our speaker, Peter Sheahan, believes that by understanding Generation Y you will be able to better attract, retain and manage them in your organisations, both as employees and as customers.

A Gen Y’er himself, Peter has worked with more than 100,000 members of this generation in workshops, seminars and focus groups. It is this experience, and the collective research he collates from around the world that Peter will draw upon in his presentation today. He has delivered more than 2,000 presentations to a combined audience of over 300,000 people in six different countries, and in 2006 he was voted by his peers at the National Speakers Association as the leading keynote speaker in Australia.

Peter is also the author of four books including the best seller ‘Generation Y’, which is available for purchase today.

Learn why the 4.5 million upwardly mobile Australians born between 1978 and 1994 are currently the most influential consumer and employee group in the country.  Gain a deep understanding of the mindsets that drive their behavior so you can better attract, manage and engage this generation both as customers and as staff. Peter’s entertaining and informative session will:

Provide an insightful introduction to the differences between generations in the workplace
Help managers and leaders identify the biases and blind spots they may have about this generation
Explore how the mindset of Generation Y is trending upwards and how it will redefine how you treat your staff and customers
Create a forum for discussion on the issues Generation Y already present to your organisation, and outline some key strategies for dealing with those challenges. y

TOPIC:
Building an Awesome Employer Brand
There is no question that the ever-worsening skills shortage means that companies have to compete aggressively to attract the best young talent in the market.  Peter Sheahan believes that in order for organisations to remain competitive in this cut-throat environment, they must build an “employer brand” that screams distinction, opportunity and value. 

In today’s session, Peter will guide you through not only what it takes to build a powerful employer brand, but also examine what that brand might look like.

Peter’s informative and interactive session will:

Present the case for building an employer brand
Provide you with a model so you can begin to defining your employer brand
Give you ideas on how to market that brand in both the local and wider community
Increase your understanding of the changing nature of the Australian workforce, and what you as a leader need to do to ensure your organisation remains agile, relevant and attractive in this increasingly competitive market.

TOPIC:
Flip!: Mind-blowing SUCCESS in an upside down world
Former Young Entrepreneur of the Year and author of four books, Peter Sheahan has developed “Flip!” – an inspiring, future-focused philosophy not just for reacting to changes in the market, but for being the force of change in the market. 

In order to achieve real success, organisations must shift the mindsets of their senior leaders out of the world as it used to exist and into the world as it exists today.

To remain a force in the market, organisations must develop a deep understanding of the changing expectations of both their customers and staff.

Flip is your inspiring, future-focused strategy for building a successful business through courageous leadership, innovation and change. To remain competitive, organisations not only need to shift the mindsets of their current leaders, but also must develop a deep understanding of the changing expectations of both customers and talent.  Flip is a philosophy not just for reacting to changing markets, but for being the force of change in the market.  The key concepts include:

The importance of an orientation for action despite the ambiguity of the current business climate
The expectations of today’s customers and clients, and an insight into what they will be tomorrow
Creating mind blowing customer experiences and understanding that this is your only source of sustainable competitive advantage
Capturing market share, and creating new markets through innovation and a willingness to take risks in fringe and niche markets
Co-creation and the importance of collaborating with your market


TOPIC:

The Emerging Mindset of Generation Y

Our high schools and universities are filled with Generation Y, the 4.5 million Australians born between 1978 & 1994. They think differently to any generation that has gone before them, and are proving a real challenge to educate. By properly understanding this emerging generation, you will overcome some of the frustrations you face on a day to day basis.  Peter’s entertaining and informative session will:

Provide an insightful introduction to the differences between generations
Help educators and leaders identify the biases and blind spots they may have about this generation
Explore how the mindset of Generation Y is just a sign of things to come, and how it will redefine what it means to be an educator
Create a forum for discussion of the issues Generation Y already present to educators, and outline some key strategies for dealing with those challenges.
TOPIC:
Marketing to Generation Y

Learn why the 4.5 million upwardly mobile Australians born between 1978 and 1994 are currently the most influential consumer group in the country.  Gain a deep understanding of the mindsets that drive their behavior so you can better attract, engage and retain this generation as profitable customers.

Peter’s entertaining and informative session will:
Give you an in depth insight into the mindset of Generation Y
Define what oft cited words like ‘relevant’, ‘authentic’, ‘cool’ and ‘credible’ actually mean for brands trying to engage this generation
Introduce you to the way this generation are increasingly interacting with brands and how you can better position yours

TOPIC:
Building a Powerful Personal Brand
Stand out from the competition by building the brand called YOU!

To thrive in your professional life, you need to be able to unlock your talents and build a powerful and recognisable “Personal Brand”.  By developing your brand you enhance your ability to get more of what you want from your life. For some this means more business, more sales and more money. For others it is about recognition, opportunity and the ability to make a more valuable contribution to the communities you serve. Whatever your goals, unleashing the power of your personal brand will fast track your ability to achieve them. In this provocative and informative session, you will:

Discover the two key requirements for a successful career
Explore and develop what constitutes your personal brand
Gain enough clarity to begin marketing your brand more widely within your organisation and the wider market place
Be inspired to take your career to a new level.

A Selection of Client Testimonials

“Peter spoke to our 70 most senior leaders about the impact that Generation Y's will have on our culture, leadership and work processes in the coming 3-5 years. He's dynamic, engaging and fun. He uses non-threatening metaphors, and enables people to see things in a new way. He interacts superbly with all ages and styles of managers and enables them to confront their own biases and blind spots. An extremely effective speaker, who I strongly recommend.”
Heather Miles, GM Environment & Capability, Westpac Banking Corporation


"Peter's vibrant energetic style engaged the Ericsson team to think about thriving and surviving with Generation Y.  He is living proof of Generation Y and turns it on!"
Sally Hamilton - Business Development, Managed Services, Ericsson


“Mr Sheahan was a very proactive, engaged speaker, who obviously knew his stuff.  He spoke for 75 minutes and could have gone on for longer.”
Greg Manning - Executive Manager, Commonwealth Bank


“Insightful, thought provoking and inspiring.”
Peter Beattie MP – QLD Premier, QLD Government


“Not only was Peter entertaining but he was able to communicate with staff of all ages, giving 30 of our most promising staff valuable tools to take away and make a part of their work and personal lives.”
Karen Audley – Manager Development Manager, Woolworths Limited


“Your presentation was relevant and practical and provided unique insights into both Gen Y and others close to that age group. Our business leaders are still talking about it now and it is over a week since your presentation. I would highly recommend you to any organisation that needs to better understand young people in business”
Mary Hendriks – Program Coordinator, Business Mentor Services


“Your energy and initiative, and practical tips were very well received. You drew praise on almost every participant’s evaluation. Well done on an entertaining, inspiring and thought provoking presentation.”
Jackie Simpson – Professional Careers Coordinator, University of Western Sydney


“The poise, passion and commitment you show in your work is infectious. It is a wonderful treat to be able to listen to a speaker of your calibre and I know it was appreciated by all those in the room.”
Sharlene Eade, Events Manager, Australian Institute of Management – VIC & TAS


“The feedback we received from all the members and guests who attended the workshop was unanimous – you were awesome!!! I am certain that your insight into managing Generation Y has greatly assisted those in our industry that have been trying to understand their young team members”
Melanie Chettle, ACT Chair, Meetings & Events Australia