Olympic Rower Cameron Girdlestone Inspires ICMS Students with Lessons from Sports and Business

With the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, students at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) gained invaluable insights from Olympic rower Cameron Girdlestone during his recent guest lecture at the ICMS Northern Beaches Campus.

Cameron, a dual Olympian known for his achievements in the Men’s Quadruple Scull rowing event, captivated the students with his extraordinary journey. He clinched a Silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a Bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

But his story doesn’t end there.

Initially starting his career as a teacher, Cameron’s passion for rowing propelled him to professional athletics, where he competed on the Olympic stage.

Overcoming setbacks

Cameron’s journey was not without speedbumps along the way, such as the Covid-19 pandemic interruption during the 2020 Olympics.

Cameron was initially not selected to row in the 2020 Olympics but the postponement of the Olympics by a year gave him the opportunity to work harder, persevere, get back to the best version of himself and ultimately be selected for the Olympic squad that competed in 2021.

“A lot of people thought I’d quit. I didn’t like the word quit. I never was a quitter. I wasn’t brought up like that. I was brought up to back myself and to be brave,” Cameron shared with the students, emphasising the importance of perseverance both in sports and in business.

“You must be accountable and responsible for what you say you’re going to do, that’ll hold you in such good stead and you’ll excel in whatever industry you choose.”

A career in Property

Today, Cameron has shifted gears and works as a Property Office Leasing Senior Negotiator at CBRE Asia Pacific.

His diverse career path offers students an example of how skills developed in sports can translate seamlessly into the business world.

Cameron drew a compelling link between the qualities required for success in sports and those essential for thriving in the business world.

“Don’t accept substandard work quality, don’t accept substandard teamwork, don’t accept the norm, and don’t accept that what you have previously done will be enough,” he said.

“Accept that you are capable of more and you’ll need to do more than that. Then get everyone around you on board and do it together.”

Inspiring students through Guest Lecturers

ICMS continually seeks to inspire and motivate its students by inviting guest lecturers who can provide practical and motivational insights.

Cameron’s visit is part of the college’s commitment to broadening the perspectives of its students by learning from the experiences of accomplished individuals.

“We were thrilled to have Olympian Cameron Girdlestone at our campus. His dedication, resilience, and success both on and off the water serve as an inspiration to all of us,” said Bachelor of Property (Development, Investment and Valuation) lecturer Sam Cuccurullo.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, the excitement within the student body is palpable.

Cameron’s visit has not only fueled their passion for sports but also instilled in them the drive to achieve excellence in their future careers.

For more information about the ICMS Bachelor of Property (Development, Investment and Valuation), click here.

Picture Credit: Rowing Australia