Simon Archer

Gidday! My name is Simon, I am a Pinnacle Programme graduate who recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Auckland University. My passions are; business, leadership and teamwork, rugby (and various other sports), exercising and being outdoors.

At school, after being inspired by people such as Steve Jobs, I started a business called Blackshack which sold lemonade made from my family’s generations old secret recipe passed on to me by my grandmother. Over time, I invested in machinery, permits, trademarks, and had the odd person come in to help me run the business. I learnt about sales, marketing, admin, production, cash (and the problem of not having any!), the importance of contacts and seeking the right advice. However, I hit a junction in the road. Borrow thousands of dollars to get Blackshack to the next level or invest in myself. For now, I’ve chosen the latter.

My goal is to gain business experience at Lion NZ (my employer) and improve my life skills and perhaps go back into business of my own one day.
Deciding on your long-term goals and what you want to achieve in life can be challenging. Especially, if you are young and have a few options.  Trust me, I know what it is like to be there.

What I have learnt; to be open minded and put yourself in situations that challenge you and your passions, reach out to people who are willing to listen and provide their advice, and, whatever options you have available, give each one a crack, see where it leads, whilst not giving up on the big goals.

The Pinnacle Programme (and Stage Three) has acted as the perfect platform for me to pursue my passions and interests, engage with some amazing people, and hone in on my goals. I am truly grateful for the experience.