When Ben Goodger '93 first walked through the Main Block doors in 1993, he could not have imagined the extraordinary career that lay ahead. From those early days at Grammar, through his pioneering role developing Google Chrome, he has carried with him lessons learnt on Mountain Road. "I had a good deal of anxiety about going there at the beginning. It wasn't following the friend group I'd had at intermediate school, and I thought I would know nobody. But it was the best springboard. There are things I probably wouldn't have thought possible had I not gone through that system."

On Ben's first day at Grammar, in his first class, a boy leaned across and introduced himself. He became a lifelong friend and was a groomsman at Ben's wedding. "Moments like that stay with you. It is a reminder of how quickly Grammar pulls you upwards and connects you." He recalls former Headmaster John Morris reminding boys in assembly that they represented Grammar from the moment they left their front door until they returned home at night. "It wasn't just about lofty goals," Ben reflects, "it was reinforced in the little things - uniforms, manners, discipline. It all worked together as a cohesive, memorable system."

Now based in the United States, Ben cannot help but compare his own experience with the American school system his children will grow up in. "I think my son would thrive at Grammar," he admits. "There is a sense of tradition and expectation. Education isn't just about content. It's about cultivating discipline and aspiration. Grammar gave me that and I want the same for my kids."

Now at OpenAI, Ben is thoughtful about the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence. "Even our least capable models today are better than me at a whole host of things," he says. "But AI should be seen as an accelerator, not a replacement for human expertise. It's like having a very capable assistant. It helps you move faster, but it doesn't replace creativity or judgement. The challenge is helping people see that it isn't science fiction - it can be practical, and even inspiring."

Ben muses on his journey. "Sometimes you come from modest means and end up in a different place. I am working at the forefront of technology now but there is something special about where you come from. I appreciate Grammar for the lasting influence it had."