Anton Colella, CEO of ICAS and former CEO of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, at Lochend Community High School

Anton Colella spoke to a group of Fifth and Sixth Year students of business, enterprise and communications near Glasgow about his life and work as CEO of several companies. The talk centred around Anton’s messages of aiming high and how to achieve success, drawing on his own background coming from a working class family in Glasgow to inspire students.

With both the talk and Q&A session being very candid from Anton, the students got a lot out of hearing from a senior figure in the financial field who had gone to a state school as well. He also stressed that qualifications are only half of the picture – being a warm and kind person as well is key to a happy life.

Following this event, Jemma McLean, one of the school’s fifth-year students said, “Anton really motivated me to try even harder in school and made me realise the importance of being nice to other people.”