Off to Stanford for leadership programme

A Great opportunity: Ernslaw One harvest and logistics manager Buck Trafford has been accepted into Stanford’s Executive Leadership Development programme. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Te Karaka’s Buck Trafford is swapping forestry work for some serious book-based learning at one of the United States’ most-prestigious business schools.
The 30-year old Waikato University graduate has been accepted into Stanford University’s Executive Leadership Development programme.
Applying for the course was a comprehensive process that involved writing a short essay and saying what he wanted to achieve out of the course, what goals he had for himself in the future, and how this course might help him to achieve those. 
“In the earlier stages I had a conversation with Ken Houkamau (Ngati Porou Seafoods Group general manager) as I knew he had carried out a similar pathway with doing study at Stanford — he highly recommended the experience and reaffirmed why I wanted to do something like this,” Mr Trafford said. 
“I submitted an application for Stanford and Harvard universities and was admitted to both leadership programmes, which was a surreal feeling. I opted for Stanford based on Ken’s recommendation, and also the course content looked to be more of a fit for what I wanted to achieve from this experience.”
Mr Trafford starts the course in late May. He will spend two weeks on campus at Stanford University, then have a handful of follow-up sessions. 
“There will also be a 360-degree review process done by myself and colleagues at Ersnlaw One, so they can gauge where my leadership style may need some tweaking. 
“The findings of the 360-review will be visited in one-on-one mentor sessions with Stanford staff while on campus. I will spend two weeks in San Francisco on the Stanford campus with 50 others from around the world who have also been accepted to this year’s programme.
“I hope to come away with some skills and knowledge on how to become an effective but resilient leader. I know many aspects of leadership can’t be taught but I hope the course will help develop the skills I already have. 
“I am a very aspirational individual and strive to be at the top one day, so that’s the ultimate goal — but it will take some hard work and development along the way, which is where this tuition fits in.”
He expects the course to benefit both himself personally, and his career in general.
“Ultimately, the whole experience is going to be awesome. Being able to attend an institution of that calibre is a huge privilege and will no doubt be quite overwhelming. 
“I am looking forward to the networking opportunities with the rest of the global cohort which will come from a wide range of industry and experience levels.”
Mr Trafford said he was “overwhelmed” to be accepted by such a prestigious institution with such a globally recognised reputation. 
“I am looking forward to the experience and to coming home to apply the techniques and skills to my day-to-day job here in Te Tairāwhiti.
“This has been a self-directed process and I was committed to funding this myself. 
“On the back of this I applied for a couple of scholarships, and I am privileged to be a recipient of the AGMARDT (Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust) Executive Management Scholarship for 2023.”
The AGMARDT scholarship will fund a large portion of the tuition. The objective of this scholarship is to encourage transformational change within New Zealand agribusinesses by providing an opportunity to place talented individuals in a chosen international marketplace or a recognised executive training opportunity, to deliver a transformative experience that will encourage personal development, long-term commitment and benefits to NZ agribusiness.