Victoria alumnus named in world's top 100 influential leaders

Derek Handley, a Victoria Business School graduate, has been recognised today as one of the top 100 AACSB International (AACSB) Influential Leaders.

Derek Handley

AACSB is a global accrediting body and membership association for business schools. The association’s inaugural Influential Leader Award recognises individuals who have demonstrated innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and made a significant business impact.

Derek says he is “honoured to be among a list of amazing progressive people from around the world”.

“It is really encouraging to see a growing number of business leaders recognised for driving social impact, reshaping success to include people and our planet as this is what will drive the most successful, sustainable businesses of the future,” he says.

Derek is widely renowned as an entrepreneur, speaker and author. He founded, and sold, global mobile marketing and media company The Hyperfactory, and went on to help Sir Richard Branson create The B Team, a not-for-profit initiative formed by a group of global leaders to create a future where business purpose is driven by social, environmental and economic benefits. He recently founded the Aera Foundation, a venture studio advancing new models that fuse social and financial goals.

Professor Bob Buckle, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Commerce at Victoria Business School, is delighted an alumnus of Derek’s calibre has been recognised by such a prestigious body. Earlier this year, Victoria University presented Derek a Distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions within New Zealand and globally.

“As a distinguished alumni of Victoria, we have been following Derek’s career closely and everyone in the Business School is very proud of his international achievements,” Professor Buckle says.

AACSB president and chief executive officer Thomas Robinson says: “AACSB is honoured to celebrate Derek Handley—and the collective 100 Influential Leaders—as a representation of how business school alumni have positively influenced society, as well as the management education industry’s past, present and promising future.”

The accolade puts Derek alongside individuals such as the chief executive of one of the world’s largest global relief services, a technology pioneer working to cure cancer, the founder of a global e-commerce powerhouse and a president attributed with reviving an international toy industry favourite. More than 20 industry sectors across 21 countries are represented in the top 100.

About Victoria Business School
Victoria Business School is a globally ranked capital city business school and one of New Zealand’s leading providers of quality knowledge and expertise in business and public sector studies. It is one of 72 business schools worldwide with the prestigious triple crown of accreditations from AACSB (in business and accounting), EQUIS and AMBA.

About AACSB International
Founded in 1916, AACSB is an association of more than 1,450 educational institutions, businesses, and other organisations in 90 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, Master's, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, AACSB offers a wide array of services to the management education industry.