In his early 20s, while studying for his masters of business administration degree at Harvard, Nick Greiner found himself lying in the sun on the grass of Central Park, New York, listening to Bob Dylan playing live.

Within a few years, he would be married (to Kathryn, the daughter of Commonwealth Bank chairman Bede Callaghan), have graduated with a high distinction, and be installed as chairman of the Australian arm of global publishing company Harper and Row.