KEY POINTS:
There are not many people who could pull off driving a car on to the stage of Auckland's Aotea centre let alone cooking up a paua ravioli on a barbecue in front of 2000 people.
But top chef Al Brown, the joint owner of Wellington's Logan Brown restaurant, and known for his TV series Hunger for the Wild is not your average businessman.
His performance at yesterday's Thrive New Zealand motivational business conference showed big things can come from small beginnings.
Adopted by a family of sheep farmers, Brown said he felt destined to become a sheep herder but after being expelled from high school in his final year his life took a new focus as he strived to become a top chef.
Using the theme of "cooking up a corporation" Brown talked about how he had built up his Wellington restaurant over the past 12 years, turning it into an award-winning brand and his move from chef to TV presenter.
His performance built on presentations from other business leaders, including National Party leader John Key, Fonterra chief Andrew Ferrier and lawyer and businesswoman Mai Chen.
