We’re launching a podcast! It’s called Hunger & Heart, and it’s about the intersection of wild ambition and fierce compassion.
Our first guest is a doozy: rugby legend and acclaimed mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan.
About Kaila Colbin
Kaila Colbin is founder and CEO of Boma, an organisation building a world of intentional, intelligent, courageous leaders. Boma is the creator of the Crusaders Leadership Programme™.
An award-winning leader renowned for impact, Kaila works with teams and organisations to build cultural alignment, cultivate honesty, and adapt to a rapidly changing world.
As an international keynote speaker, she has shared the stage with the likes of Bear Grylls, General Stanley McChrystal, astronaut Chris Hadfield, and Swati Mandela. Her powerful, up-to-the-minute insights and world-class delivery make her a standout favourite with any audience.
She developed TEDxChristchurch into New Zealand’s flagship TEDx event and brought Singularity University to New Zealand and Australia, supporting thousands of people to engage with exponentially accelerating technologies and their impact on humanity. Her work to champion Aotearoa New Zealand on a global stage saw her given the 2022 Kea World Class New Zealanders Friend of New Zealand award.
As a founder of the non-profit Ministry of Awesome, Kaila played a critical role in developing Christchurch’s startup ecosystem. She has extensive governance experience, and has been involved with mergers, capital raises, and company sales in the US and NZ. She trained with Brené Brown and Al Gore, and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and a certified Project Management Professional.
A native New Yorker, Kaila speaks English, Spanish, French and Italian. She holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Cornell University. Her purpose in life is to be an uplifting presence.
About Sir John Kirwan KNZM MBE
Sir John Kirwan KNZM MBE is a New Zealand mental health advocate, former rugby union and rugby league player, and former rugby union coach.
A wing, he played for Auckland in the 1980s and 1990s, when they dominated New Zealand rugby. He played in 63 tests for New Zealand, and scored 35 tries, making him one of the highest try scorers in international rugby union history. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He also played rugby league for the Auckland Warriors in their first two seasons in 1995 and 1996.
After retiring, he moved into coaching, and was the head coach of Japanese club NEC, the Italy and Japan national teams, and the Blues in Super Rugby, until he stepped down in 2015.
He has written two books about mental health and his battles with depression, All Blacks Don’t Cry and Stand By Me, and has been honoured for his services to mental health.
