Cam was first supported by the North Harbour Club 16 years ago and then received AIMES Service to the Community Awards twice, in 2006 and 2009. Since then his career has flourished and today Cam is one of our North Harbour Club Ambassadors. Winning an award is not only a grant donation, the club is here to support and mentor our winners throughout their careers - the 'Connections' service is open to all AIMES Alumni. We speak to Cam about how winning his awards has helped him today.....

What did it mean to you, in the early stages of your career, to receive your AIMES Awards?
I think of the AIMES and the North Harbour Club that built my career and this is how. In the early days I applied for it to assist with my sporting endeavours. I didn’t fit the criteria but got a special award that enabled me to attend and international competition. Upon returning I was asked to speak of my experience and how the grant assisted. I was terrified by the thought of speaking but as learnt from my athletics I trained for the occasion and got a positive response to my words. Words that saw me becoming an Ambassador for the YES Disability Resource Centre because of North Harbour Club members connections to that project. Members that inspired me to live for a purpose beyond myself, that provided opportunities to speak and now (16 years on) speaking is my full time lifestyle. The North Harbour Club inspired me, tested me, shifted my perception on excellence.

How did the financial injection of a grant funds assist you?
They gave me confidence in my dream, that it wasn’t now simply something I believed in, it was something that others believed I could achieve. Their faith and confidence displayed through a financial boost gave me the biggest boost on days that motivation slacked, not turning up to training, an event, an opportunity now had a bigger consequence. It made me realise that my goal had a value to others and through building that value my dream could become my life.

Did you build a connection with the North Harbour Club, or any particular person, in any way?
Too many to mention here. I feel privileged to have referred to many within the NHC (members) as my giants, people I could go to advice, guidance and connections in anything I desired. I learnt that through checking in, forming a plan, executing that plan (their input) could keep them interested and inspired to keep offering guidance when desired, it certainly is among the best mentoring I’ve ever had and the best thing about it is that it felt more like friendship.

Has this connection helped you in your career?
It’s inspired, motivated and connected me to what I needed early on, to become a full-time speaker today.

What would you say has been your greatest achievement since winning the award?
From winning the award for services to the community in 2006 and 2009 my greatest achievement has been able to become an inspirational speaker and receive acknowledgment as making it into the top 15% of speakers worldwide who are affiliated with their association. This is a global community of 56,000 speakers and the award is given based on frequency of talks, size of clients, income, quality of references and contribution to the industry.

Are you open to the idea of giving personal advice to future AIMES Award Winners?
Winning the money is great, having the award on the wall is grand, but where the real awesomeness lives is within the network of the members. People talk about two degrees of separation and within the club is a link to so so so much excellence - this is the real value. Within the club you can be linked with incredible people from so many different industries and all over the world. I’ve spoken in New York City thanks to the NHC network. My tip for future winners is to mix and mingle as much as you can on the evening and then come to events and talk with people with your enthusiasm.

What does the future hold for you?
I’ve always been guided and motivated by the words; travel, entertain, connections. That’s what’s got me doing what I do and that’s what’s shaping the future

Find out more about Cam, Inspirational Speaker here - https://www.camcalkoen.com/