CEO Stories: Five things we learned from Aston University's Professor Aleks Subic
Professor Aleks Subic, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Aston University, was the latest guest on CEO Stories – a podcast from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce which delves into the minds of the region’s best and brightest business leaders.
The podcast, hosted by GBCC chief executive Henrietta Brealey, is available in full on all major listening platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In this episode, Professor Subic shares his journey from his early life as a migrant in Australia, through his career transition from industry to academia, to leading significant technological innovations.
Highlights include his formative experiences in both Belgrade and Melbourne, his role in the Australian Prime Minister's Industry 4.0 taskforce and his current strategic initiatives at Aston University aimed at driving digital transformation and industry collaboration.
He also offers key insights on leadership, the importance of diversity and inclusion and strategies for managing change.
Here are five things we learned from Professor Subik's chat Henrietta...
1) Lessons learned Down Under
Professor Subic's journey began in the former Yugoslavia, from where he migrated to Australia at the tender age of 10.
His experiences as a migrant shaped his world view, fostering an appreciation for diversity and inclusion.
This rich cultural backdrop informed his leadership style and his approach to innovation, ultimately propelling him to the top of academia.
Subic’s formative years were split between Belgrade and Melbourne, giving him aunique perspective on global education systems.
He said: "It's those experiences that you have throughout your life that form you into who you are today.
"I've grown up in a very diverse, very inclusive environment where it's almost like a melting pot somewhere in the Pacific, and I've learned to absorb, to immerse into diversity and inclusion naturally."
2) Industry to academia
One of the defining moments in Professor Subic's career was his decision to leave the industry and pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering in Belgrade.
This move set him on a path into academia, where his curiosity and passion for research could flourish.
Subic attributes his success to this pivotal choice, highlighting how academia offered him the freedom to innovate and make a broader impact - something he found invaluable.
He explains: "I think that freedom and that ability to contribute in a broader sense, but also see the formative feedback and results on young people very quickly attracted me.
"It gave me freedom that I couldn't have in a more contained business or industry environment."
3) Inspired by Da Vinci
Professor Subic reveals he is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian painter, engineer, scientist, sculptor and architect from the Renaissance period.
"I landed on engineering as a profession and one of my idols, as some of my colleagues know, is Leonardo da Vinci, because I always thought that he was one of the first engineers.
"The way I see engineering is bringing art and design, social and technology, creating these everlasting contraptions and everlasting mechanisms that do something useful for humans, whether they fly, whether they do agricultural work or whether they do textile work or whatever.
"And, and it's a passion for that interface and for Leonardo da Vinci that took me to engineering when I reflect back today."
4) Driving digital innovation
Professor Subic’s co-chairing of the Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Task Force in Australia underscores his expertise in digital transformation.
This experience significantly informs his vision for Aston University.
Under his leadership, Aston has developed the Digital Futures Institute and is pioneering the integration of AI and digital skills into all programmes.
Professor Subic illustrates how embracing digital technology at scale is crucial for thefuture of education and its role in broader societal change.
5) The great outdoors
When he’s not leading Aston University, Professor Subic recharges by enjoying the English countryside.
He told Henrietta: "One of my lifelong favourite spots that I've discovered since coming here (to the UK) and keep on going back to is the Malvern Hills.
"Going on the weekend and climbing the Malvern Hills and doing a 10km hike there takes all the worries away.
"It's one of the most beautiful spots that I've discovered and that town somehow resonates with me."
