I would invite Captain James Cook, as a poor Yorkshire farm boy who would go on to chart one-third of the world, revolutionise navigation and redefine humanity’s understanding of the globe. He accurately mapped and carried out depth soundings for one-third of the world’s coastline using sail-powered vessels and led his men with courage, fairness and integrity.
I have the natural tendency to admire early-day explorers, and he is the one who comes to mind.
For a shipping executive who took a major risk that paid off, I would invite Chung Ju-yung. He was the visionary founder of Hyundai Group, building his empire from extreme poverty through relentless determination, self-belief and action.
This famously embodied his “do it first” spirit, prioritising sincerity and hard work, even feeding on tree bark as a child before becoming a global industrialist who transformed South Korea. Chung was grounded in principles of perseverance, innovation and tackling the impossible, like building ships with no experience by showing a banknote picture of a turtle ship, as detailed in his autobiography Born of this Land. I would also invite a diverse group of young cadets, with equal representation of men and women, drawn from under-represented communities and developing regions.
The aim is to expose them to role models who have overcome significant personal and professional challenges, demonstrating how determination, courage and commitment can enable individuals to overcome circumstances and realise their potential.