Rowan Simpson

What do a world-class music producer and a founder-turned-investor have to learn from each other? More than you might think. In this keynote, Joel Little, the creative force behind songs from global icons like Lorde and Taylor Swift, sits down with Rowan Simpson, co-founder of Trade Me and a trailblazer in the New Zealand startup scene, to explore the fascinating intersection of talent, mindset, and ambition. Together, they’ll tackle key questions: ⇼ On TALENT - what are the qualities that define truly talented people, and how do you help them thrive? From artists to founders, creation is at the heart of it all, what can these creators learn from each other. ⇼ On MINDSET - how does the mindset of New Zealand’s talent differ from those in other countries? Do cultural attitudes towards success hold us back, or propel us forward? ⇼ On AMBITION - what does ambition look like in New Zealand, and how can we foster the kind of ambition that leads to global impact? By the end of this discussion, you’ll see how founders and artists are cut from the same cloth, both hacking away at creation and beauty in their own unique ways. Most importantly, you’ll leave inspired, knowing that New Zealand has all the talent it needs to create something with a global reach.