Rowing 2,200km Across The Tasman, Building a Business & Investment Empire - Shaun Quincey
Dec 1, 2024
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In this engaging talk, Shaun Quincey shares his incredible journey as the only person to have solo rowed across the Tasman Sea. He recounts thrilling tales of battling self-doubt, rowing into whales, and flipping his boat, all while highlighting the emotional and physical challenges he faced. Shaun also discusses his entrepreneurial success, founding Genoapay and the recent achievements with Simfuni. His humor, authenticity, and wisdom shine through as he reflects on resilience and the lessons learned from both the ocean and the business world.
Shaun Quincy's solo rowing journey across the Tasman Sea exemplifies resilience, requiring meticulous planning and overcoming significant physical challenges over 54 days.
The success of Shaun's company, Genoapay, illustrates his innovative approach to addressing client needs in the fast-growing payment industry of New Zealand.
Shaun emphasizes the critical role of community support in both his rowing and business endeavors, highlighting how strong relationships foster resilience and motivation.
Reflecting on mentorship's importance, Shaun encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to seek guidance from experienced professionals to navigate challenges and achieve their goals.
Deep dives
The Epic Tasman Voyage
The podcast recounts Sean Quincy's extraordinary journey of rowing solo across the Tasman Sea, which took him two years to plan and 54 days to execute. This challenging voyage involved navigating through some of the world's most perilous waters, and Sean faced numerous harrowing experiences, including rowing in stormy weather, encountering whales, and even capsizing, leaving him trapped underwater. The narrative highlights the mental and physical demands of such an endeavor, detailing how Sean had to overcome self-doubt and the fear of failure to achieve his goal. The legacy of his father, who had previously completed the crossing, served as both an inspiration and a haunting reminder of the risk he was undertaking.
Building a Business: Genoa Pay
Following his remarkable rowing experience, Sean transitioned into the business world by founding Genoa Pay, a payment company that became one of New Zealand's fastest-growing startups. Within a short span, the company grew rapidly, using innovative strategies tailored to meet the needs of clients, particularly in the service sector such as dentists and veterinarians. Despite starting from scratch with limited capital, Sean's drive and determination helped him navigate the initial hurdles of entrepreneurship, including securing funding and building a strong operational framework. The company's success culminated in a lucrative acquisition, demonstrating Sean's ability to translate his adventurous spirit into effective business strategies.
The Importance of Community and Connection
Throughout his journey, Sean emphasizes the role of community and strong relationships in achieving success, whether in rowing, business, or personal life. He speaks fondly of the support system he has built, including friends, family, and professional networks that have propelled him forward at various stages of his life. The podcast touches on how friendships have provided a foundation that fosters resilience and motivation, allowing him to confront challenges head-on. This communal aspect extends beyond his personal circles, reflecting Sean's commitment to helping others by investing in new startups and nurturing entrepreneurial talent within New Zealand.
Lessons from Failure and Persistence
Sean's experiences highlight a recurring theme of overcoming setbacks and learning from failures, which he views as crucial components of growth. He candidly discusses the difficulties he faced both during his Tasman voyage and while launching his businesses, underlining that the journey is often fraught with challenges. Sean stresses the significance of remaining adaptive and open to feedback, whether from mentors or customers, and how these lessons can refine one's approach to problem-solving. By embracing failures as opportunities for learning, he underscores the importance of resilience and determination in both personal and professional contexts.
The Dynamic of Family and Work
As a devoted husband and father, Sean reflects on the delicate balance between his work commitments and family life. He recognizes the sacrifices that both he and his wife, Lisa, make to prioritize their family while navigating the demands of entrepreneurship. Sean insights into parenting emphasize the importance of being present with his children, imparting lessons of hard work, dedication, and the value of pursuing one’s passions. He also discusses the challenges of transitioning from a busy professional life to quality family time and the proactive measures he takes to instill family values and create memorable experiences.
Navigating Midlife and Personal Growth
The podcast also touches on Sean's reflections as he transitions into his 40s, allowing him to assess his past accomplishments while considering his future aspirations. He embraces the idea of continuous learning and personal development, seeking to leverage his experiences as both an adventurer and entrepreneur to inspire others. Sean discusses his commitment to giving back to the community, urging others to pursue their dreams and commitments to lifelong learning. This self-awareness and desire for growth highlight a maturation of perspective on success, underscoring that true fulfillment transcends business achievements and encompasses family and community impact.
The Role of Mentorship in Personal and Professional Life
Throughout the podcast, Sean emphasizes the importance of mentorship, both as a mentee learning from experienced individuals and as a mentor guiding others. He shares how he's been influenced by numerous mentors along his journey, illustrating that seeking guidance is vital at every stage of life. Sean encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to engage with experienced professionals to learn from their successes and failures, laying the groundwork for future achievements. This cyclical nature of mentorship reinforces the value of sharing knowledge and gives back to the community, creating a supportive ecosystem where new ideas can flourish.
The Legacy of Adventure and Business
As the podcast nears its conclusion, Sean reflects on the intertwining nature of his adventurous spirit with his entrepreneurial journey. He acknowledges that the skills, determination, and resilience he learned while rowing the Tasman have been pivotal in navigating the complexities of business. Sean expresses a desire to encourage others to pursue their passions, suggesting that life's greatest adventures, whether through physical challenges or business pursuits, can lead to profound personal growth. This legacy of adventure fuels his ambitions, motivating him to create a lasting impact, not only through his own achievements but by empowering others to take on their own journeys.
Shaun Quincey is a top business executive and angel investor helping fund Kiwi business dreams.
But before that he became the only person to have successfully rowed solo from Australia to New Zealand and became a top selling author after writing a book about it.
We spent the first half talking about his epic solo Tasman voyage, which took two years of planning and 54 days of rowing in the world's most treacherous stretches of water.
This story is insane, and includes yarns about rowing into whales, flipping his boat and being trapped under it for 30 minutes, self-doubt, elite mindset and how his dad is the only other person to have rowed the Tasman solo – in the other direction in 1977.
Then in the second half we talk about his incredible business success.
Shaun is the founder of Genoapay, which quickly became one of the fastest growing payment companies in New Zealand. Within 6 months, the company was valued at close to 10 million dollars. Genoapay was acquired by Latitude where Shaun became General Manager, before taking up roles as a Director at IceHouse Ventures and Payleadr.
He is now CEO and Co-founder of Simfuni – which was named the Insurtech start-up of the year in 2024.
All that is to say – what he has achieved since rowing the Tasman is equally impressive as his epic sea expedition.
This is a ripper of an ep, Shaun is authentic, self-deprecating and funny – with so much wisdom to share.
And we’re so stoked to be able to announce him as the latest addition to B2B Speakers. So if you love what you hear, and would like Shaun to share his story at your function or event, flick us a message by going to B2Bspeakers.co.nz.
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Listen on iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts from or watch the video on YouTube.
