The Guest Speaker

The NCAA Opportunity Alice Taylor Never Expected | Rice University, USA Texas

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, working in a café, continuing to train, and trying to figure out what came next. What she didn't realise was that a conversation, a little persistence, and one email would soon open a door she never thought possible. Today, Alice is a full-scholarship student-athlete at Rice University in Houston, Texas. She has competed at NCAA Championships, earned multiple academic honours, and built an incredible life balancing elite sport with a degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology. In this episode, Alice shares the reality behind the American college experience: the recruitment process, scholarship funding, academic expectations, training demands, homesickness, injuries, and the support systems available to student-athletes. She explains why you don't need to be a national champion to attract attention from overseas universities and how the opportunities available are often far greater than young athletes realise. She also reflects on the challenges of building an identity beyond sport, adapting to life in another country, and making the most of opportunities that arrive unexpectedly. Throughout the conversation, Alice's story is a reminder that success isn't always about having the perfect plan - sometimes it's about staying open-minded enough to recognise a new path when it appears. For athletes, students, parents, and anyone navigating uncertainty about what's next, this episode offers practical insights, encouragement, and a powerful reminder that some of life's best opportunities begin with a simple decision to back yourself. Follow Alice: 📸 @alicetaylor2002 🍽️ @doubletroubleeats #studentathlete #ncaa #americanscholarship #trackandfield #highjump #careers #education #newzealand #podcast #theguestspeaker

Amy Calway: Entrepreneur & Wellness Founder - Building a Career Through Pivots

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, alcohol marketing, large-scale events, and eventually founding a wellness destination designed to help people slow down, reconnect and feel better. Today, Amy brings together over 20 years of experience in events, media, marketing and hospitality through Tiki Beach - a wellness experience centred around connection, recovery and nature. We chat about: ✨ growing up with dyslexia and learning differently ✨ why career paths don’t need to be linear ✨ entrepreneurship, risk-taking and resilience ✨ hearing “no” and learning to fail forward ✨ psychology, marketing and consumer behaviour ✨ wellness, burnout and building healthier lives ✨ surrounding yourself with people who inspire growth ✨ creating opportunities instead of waiting for them Whether you’re interested in business, events, psychology, wellness, marketing - or simply figuring out what comes next - Amy’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t always follow a script. Follow Amy + Tiki Beach: 🌊 @amycalway 🌴 @tikibeach.co.nz [http://tikibeach.co.nz] ☀️ Tiki Beach Wellness 🎧 Listen now.

Matt Watson: The Work Ethic Behind the Adventure | Building a Global Career Through Fishing

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 becoming a qualified skipper, taking a pay cut to chase experience, and eventually borrowing money to create The ITM Fishing Show with no television background. His story is full of bold pivots, practical lessons, and honest reflections on work, money, family, integrity, and building a career around something you genuinely love. For young people who feel more at home outdoors than behind a desk, Matt’s journey is a reminder that passion matters - but so does discipline, problem-solving, credibility, and doing the hard work no one sees.

Inside a Legal Career: Law School, Courtrooms & Work-Life Balance | Jacinda Johnston

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 - and the moments where she questioned whether law was actually right for her. This episode dives into the different types of law careers available, the intensity of legal study, internship culture, law firm environments, salary expectations, workplace pressures, and the importance of finding the right firm culture. Jacinda also speaks honestly about balancing motherhood, ambition, and wellbeing while working in a demanding profession. Whether you’re considering law because you genuinely love it - or because everyone keeps telling you that you “should” - this conversation gives an incredibly grounded look into what life in the legal profession truly involves.

Becoming an Environmental Scientist: Hannah Rogers on Ecology, Research & Following Curiosity

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. But her pathway was not perfectly linear. After beginning university in health science at Otago, Hannah quickly realised something did not feel right and eventually found her way back to ecology and environmental science. Now, through her PhD research, Hannah studies epiphytes - plants that grow on other plants for support - and explores what these often-overlooked species can teach us about restoration, resilience, and the future of our cities. This conversation is for students who love science, nature, fieldwork, research, or simply asking “why?” It is also a reminder that careers are not always obvious from the start, and sometimes the things we are most drawn to are already quietly around us.