The Guest Speaker

After pursuing tourism, having Covid completely change her plans, and later studying psychology at university, Brittany Day still hadn't found the career that truly excited her. It wasn't until someone casually suggested she'd make a great personal trainer that everything clicked. Today, Brittany is an award-recognised personal trainer and is helping people of all ages build confidence, strength a...

In this episode of The Guest Speaker, internationally recognised architect Nick Roberts shares the journey from a New Zealand classroom to leading award-winning projects across New Zealand, Australia, the United States and the Netherlands. Nick is the founding director of Roberts Gray Architects, an educator, author and one of New Zealand's leading contemporary architects. His work has been recogn...

Maia Joseph may be best known as one of the brightest young stars in New Zealand rugby, but thats just one of her two sides. A Black Fern, medical student, and role model for young athletes across Aotearoa, Maia is proving that you don't have to choose between your passions. Growing up in Dunedin, Maia loved sport, worked hard at school, and never imagined she would one day be balancing a professi...

In this episode, we sit down with Brendan Murphy, a University of Auckland architecture master’s student, to unpack what architecture school is really like - the creativity, the pressure, the studio culture, the workload, and the long road toward becoming a registered architect. Brendan shares his journey from Cambridge High School to architecture school, reflecting on the subjects that helped him...

Alice Taylor grew up in Cambridge, New Zealand, loving sport and throwing herself into every opportunity she could. But unlike many athletes who pursue American scholarships, she never believed the pathway was meant for her. After finishing school, Alice enrolled at Massey University with her sights set firmly on veterinary science. When that plan didn't work out, she found herself back home, work...

In this episode of The Guest Speaker, we sit down with entrepreneur and wellness founder Amy Calway - founder of Tiki Beach in Mangawhai - to talk about resilience, entrepreneurship, and why some of the best careers are built through pivots, curiosity and courage. Amy shares her journey from struggling in school and feeling like a “non-traditional” student, to working in nightlife promotions, alco...

Matt Watson grew up in a commercial fishing family and always felt the pull of the ocean. But before becoming one of New Zealand’s most recognisable fishing personalities, he built his work ethic the old-fashioned way - through school, sport, roofing, saving money, and learning how to turn up every day. In this episode, Matt shares how he went from running a roofing business at nineteen to becomin...

Today on The Guest Speaker, we’re joined by Jacinda Johnston - a Special Counsel at one of New Zealand’s leading law firms, Tompkins Wake - to unpack the realities of studying and working in law. From being the “bright student” encouraged into law, to studying at University of Waikato and later abroad at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Jacinda shares the pathway behind her successful legal career - a...

In this episode of The Guest Speaker, we sit down with Hannah Rogers, an emerging environmental scientist and PhD candidate at the University of Waikato whose research explores epiphytes, ecology, and the future of environmental restoration. Hannah’s connection to the natural world began early, shaped by parents who encouraged curiosity, outdoor exploration, and a deep respect for the environment....

In this episode, we sit down with Darrell Bird, owner of Dive Zone Whitianga, to explore how diving can become far more than a hobby — it can become a pathway into confidence, travel, education, leadership, tourism, marine science, commercial work, and global career opportunities. Darrell’s own journey did not follow a traditional route. After leaving school, training as a draughtsman, and realisi...

In this episode of The Guest Speaker, we sit down with Gemma Thornton, a community rehabilitation coach at Body in Motion in the Bay of Plenty. Gemma’s pathway began with a love of dance, movement, and people. After high school, she studied Sport and Human Performance at Wintec, initially imagining a future as a PE or dance teacher. But as her studies unfolded, and as her own health journey with u...

Haylee Palmer didn’t follow a perfectly mapped-out path - and that’s exactly what makes her story so relevant. Growing up in Tauranga, Haylee leaned into a philosophy of simply enjoying school, trying everything, and staying open to where life might lead. From sport to arts to leadership opportunities, she explored broadly without pressure to specialize early - a mindset that would later shape her...

Catriona McPherson grew up in Cambridge, surrounded by stories, art, and a curiosity about the world - but like many students drawn to the humanities, she wasn’t sure exactly where that path could lead. In this episode, Catriona shares how she turned a love of art history into a meaningful career at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa - one of New Zealand’s most iconic cultural institutions. S...

Kate Goodman was a high-achieving student who loved school, thrived in structured environments, and always expected she would go to university - but like many students, she had little idea what career she actually wanted. In this episode, Kate shares how she navigated that uncertainty, choosing to study psychology, criminology, and art history based on interest rather than a defined career path -...

Luke’s story begins on the Coromandel Peninsula, where a childhood shaped by the ocean, small community living, and hands-on learning laid the foundation for everything that followed. In this episode, Luke shares how his pathway into hospitality wasn’t driven by academic success, but by practical skills, people, and a willingness to work hard. Navigating school with dyslexia and struggling in trad...

Steph Woodall grew up in Cambridge with her sights set on becoming an architect - until one unexpected rejection and a gap year changed everything. In this episode, Steph shares how that pivot led her into the world of health and nutrition - from discovering fitness during a year at home, to studying at the University of Auckland, and eventually qualifying as a registered dietitian. What followed...

Rebecca grew up around the ocean in the Bay of Islands, where a love for sailing started early and steadily evolved into a career on the global stage. In this episode, Rebecca shares how she turned that passion into a profession — beginning with a rigging apprenticeship in Auckland and building her career through hands-on experience, technical skill, and strong industry connections. What followed...

Caleb Carter’s journey begins in the small coastal communities of the Coromandel, where fishing, diving, and a hands-on upbringing shaped the foundations of a career that would eventually take him to the global stage of fine dining. In this episode, Caleb traces his path from a self-described “ratbag” student who struggled with school to washing dishes at Luke’s Kitchen as a teenager. What began a...

Jaime Leigh grew up in Katikati, went to a small-town college, and always knew she wanted to be a hairdresser — even before she understood where that path could lead. What she didn’t know was that it would take her from a polytech classroom to Peter Jackson film sets, and eventually to Hollywood, where she would become a BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated hairstylist. In this episode, Jaime shares the...

Nathan Wallis has become one of Aotearoa’s most trusted voices on how kids’ brains work — not because he talks at people, but because he translates complex neuroscience into language that feels human, doable, and kind. In this episode, Nathan takes us behind the “neuroscience educator” title and back to a childhood marked by chaos, ADHD, and moving in and out of safe homes — where school wasn’t ju...

Ellen Butler’s story begins on the Coromandel Peninsula, where a childhood filled with surf lifesaving, sport, and community shaped the social, confident foundation she would later take into the world of superyachts. In this episode, Ellen traces her winding path from “top end of average” student to flight-attendant hopeful, to au pair in Sydney and France, and finally to a 90-metre Russian-owned...

From top-of-the-class student to front-line social worker, Clare Ennis has quietly built a career around something you’ll never see on a pay slip: dignity, advocacy, and deeply human care. In this episode, Clare traces her path from high-achieving “you-could-be-a-doctor” teen to working with young parents, students, and communities with high and complex needs. We talk about what it was really like...

Mitchell Lamb went from Cambridge classrooms and water polo training to rafting some of the world’s wildest rivers, and now helps teenagers turn whitewater into a way of life. In this episode, Mitchell traces his journey from “relatively academic kid” to Program Director at World Class Academy, a travelling high school for adventure athletes that treats rivers, trails, and cultures as the curricul...

From a small-town childhood to founding The Darling Room, Victoria Toye opens up about her work behind building a people-first beauty practice: education, empathy, and emotional intelligence. She traces the early spark that led her into beauty therapy, the science that underpins her treatments, and the quiet confidence she cultivated to take up space in the industry. We dive into holistic care as...

From “class clown” to Officer of the NZ Order of Merit, Dai Henwood opens up about the real work behind making people laugh: curiosity, grit, and character. He traces the spark from Wellington College to Victoria University, the moment he realized he was a comedian, and the work ethic he learned watching his parents. We dive into people skills as a superpower, saying yes to scary opportunities, an...