In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 35, our guest is Olympic High Jump champion, Hamish Kerr.

He describes himself as too tall for a runner. So it was just as well that a young Hamish Kerr scuttled down to the High Jump enclosure after his 800 metre race ended. There he found a natural ability and reduced competition; a combination that saw him develop a passion for this highly technical event at a remarkably young age.

Hamish Kerr’s is the classic Kiwi story. After winning the NZ Secondary Schools title for Auckland Grammar School, he headed off to Massey University and forgot about athletics for a couple of years. But the passion still burned, and an opportunity to attend the World University Games rekindled a love affair with the sport through which he would become a world an Olympic champion.

With his degree completed, he moved to Christchurch to follow the coaching and worked part time in a hardware store while he worked on the physical and mental techniques that would make him successful.

On the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast, Bruce Cotterill talks to Hamish about his gradual journey to the top of the Olympic podium, a journey that now includes Commonwealth Games and World Indoor titles alongside his Olympic triumph.

And he takes us step by step through that agonising Olympic qualifying session which saw him almost leave the competition prematurely, and a finals day filled with the drama that can only be delivered by an energy sapping one on one jump off for the gold medal.

And he’s not finished yet. Hamish Kerr has an aspirational message for our future leaders and an agenda that will see him attempt to defend his title in Los Angeles in 2028.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 35, our guest is Olympic High Jump champion, Hamish Kerr.
He describes himself as too tall for a runner. So it was just as well that a young Hamish Kerr scuttled down to the High Jump enclosure after his 800 metre race ended. There he found a natural ability and reduced competition; a combination that saw him develop a passion for this highly technical event at a remarkably young age.
Hamish Kerr&rsquo;s is the classic Kiwi story. After winning the NZ Secondary Schools title for Auckland Grammar School, he headed off to Massey University and forgot about athletics for a couple of years. But the passion still burned, and an opportunity to attend the World University Games rekindled a love affair with the sport through which he would become a world an Olympic champion.
With his degree completed, he moved to Christchurch to follow the coaching and worked part time in a hardware store while he worked on the physical and mental techniques that would make him successful.
On the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast, Bruce Cotterill talks to Hamish about his gradual journey to the top of the Olympic podium, a journey that now includes Commonwealth Games and World Indoor titles alongside his Olympic triumph.
And he takes us step by step through that agonising Olympic qualifying session which saw him almost leave the competition prematurely, and a finals day filled with the drama that can only be delivered by an energy sapping one on one jump off for the gold medal.
And he&rsquo;s not finished yet. Hamish Kerr has an aspirational message for our future leaders and an agenda that will see him attempt to defend his title in Los Angeles in 2028.

Kiwis seem to be debating the big issues more than ever before. Whether it’s house prices, the state of the economy, or the performance of our political leaders, most of us aren’t lacking for an opinion.

One of the things we don’t talk about that much is the need for good leadership. And it’s not just the politicians that need to take note. Whether you are running a sports team, a small business, a big business, or even a school, good leadership will see goals achieved and better outcomes generated.

Join company director and business adviser Bruce Cotterill as he talks to leaders about leadership. 

Kiwis seem to be debating the big issues more than ever before. Whether it’s house prices, the state of the economy, or the performance of our political leaders, most of us aren’t lacking for an opinion.
One of the things we don’t talk about that much is the need for good leadership. And it’s not just the politicians that need to take note. Whether you are running a sports team, a small business, a big business, or even a school, good leadership will see goals achieved and better outcomes generated.
Join company director and business adviser Bruce Cotterill as he talks to leaders about leadership.