Nathan Fa’avae has spent more than 30 years exploring what enables people and teams to perform at their best.
His career has crossed some very different worlds. He worked for many years in outdoor education, including as an instructor at Outward Bound; became a professional athlete and seven-time Adventure Racing World Champion; and has spent more than three decades building businesses, leading teams and creating sporting events.
Adventure Racing has provided an extraordinary environment for learning about high performance. Racing non-stop for days through remote and demanding terrain puts people under pressure, strips away comfort and exposes how teams really function. Success requires leadership, trust, preparation, resilience, adaptability, good decision-making and a shared commitment to the goal.
Nathan's business career began in his twenties when he established a sea kayaking company in Abel Tasman National Park, later winning a New Zealand Small Business Award. He went on to found Ten Events Limited and Real Meals, while continuing to compete internationally at the highest level of adventure sport.
Across those experiences, the environments have been very different, but many of the lessons have been remarkably similar.
Set ambitious goals. Build great teams. Prepare well. Take ownership. Adapt when things change. Keep learning.