Hugh van Cuylenburg, founder of The Resilience Project, focuses on building wellbeing programs for schools and workplaces. He discusses his personal entrepreneurial journey, filled with failures and hard-earned successes. Hugh shares transformative moments, like an unexpected speaking opportunity that shaped his career. He emphasizes the project's impact on youth mental health, demonstrating resilience during the pandemic. The conversation uncovers the power of vulnerability, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique paths to success.
Hugh van Cuylenburg draws inspiration from his family's struggles with mental illness, showcasing storytelling's role in fostering resilience and connection.
The journey of building the Resilience Project illustrates the importance of persistence and learning from failures in achieving success.
Research findings demonstrate the Resilience Project's positive impact on student mental health, emphasizing the value of education in promoting well-being.
Deep dives
Cultural Acknowledgment and Storytelling
The episode opens with acknowledgment of the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of the land and a recognition of the rich storytelling history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The host reflects on how resilience is exemplified by the world's oldest living cultures, which lays the groundwork for discussing his own journey in building resilience through storytelling. His passion for sharing stories has driven him across Australia, illustrating the importance of narrative in fostering understanding and connection. This acknowledgment sets a tone of respect and humility, aligning personal experiences with broader cultural narratives.
Inspiration from Success Stories
The host expresses admiration for the podcast 'How I Built This,' which features entrepreneurs discussing their journeys. He shares his desire to emulate this format to discuss the journey of his own organization, the Resilience Project, and reflects on how he has often been asked to share his story. Through his experiences, he recognizes that the challenges and lessons learned can inspire others embarking on similar paths. This format of sharing successes and failures underlines the significance of communal learning and the benefit of storytelling in mental health and resilience.
The Origins of the Resilience Project
The host shares the deeply personal history that inspired the creation of the Resilience Project, stemming from his sister's battle with mental illness. He recounts a pivotal moment when he witnessed his father's emotional struggle, sparking a desire to understand happiness and resilience. This moment catalyzed his pursuit of a teaching degree, driven by a naive belief that he could prevent mental illness through education. His journey takes a significant turn when he reflects on how meaningful his time volunteering in India was, shaping his understanding of gratitude and community.
Challenges and Growth of the Organization
Reflecting on the early days of the Resilience Project, the host candidly discusses the numerous failures and hardships faced along the way. His determination to create positive mental health strategies led him to audiences that were sometimes disinterested or unresponsive. Through word-of-mouth referrals and an unwavering belief in his message, the organization slowly began to gain traction. The host emphasizes that resilience, in both life and business, is built through persistence and learning from mistakes, ultimately leading to moments of success.
Launch of Digital Resources and Growth
As the Resilience Project began to secure partnerships with schools, digital resources such as online presentations and workbooks were developed to cater to a growing audience. The importance of diversifying income streams became crucial for sustainability, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatened the existence of many organizations. With the expert guidance of a newly appointed CEO, the organization expanded its offerings, allowing for greater reach and impact. This strategic pivot not only ensured survival but also reaffirmed the value of mental health education during challenging times.
Evidence of Impact and Future Directions
In the concluding reflections, the host shares promising research findings that demonstrate the Resilience Project's positive impact on students' mental health, particularly during the pandemic. Studies showed that students engaging with the program did not experience the anticipated rise in anxiety and depression, contrasting with the general population. This data validates the effectiveness of their approach, inspiring hope for the future of mental health initiatives in education. The host reaffirms his commitment to continue sharing these lessons to foster resilience through a community-focused approach in mental health care.
Dis episode is a little bit different, but if you’re as obsessed with Hugh van Cuylenburg as we are, we think you’ll enjoy it.
The Resilience Project (TRP) is the company that Hugh started building 12 years ago. Today, it delivers evidence-based, wellbeing programs to over 1000 schools in Australia, as well as countless work-places and helps provide people with strategies to build resilience too!
Hugh always knew that TRP would be something special, but god, it took a lot of hard work (and some might say resilience) to get it to where it is now.
From the first spark of inspiration, to the make-or-break scene straight from a movie, Hugh gets pretty vulnerable with Ryan and Josh about all the ways he failed on the road to success.
So grab your glitter pens, rule up your calendar, and pencil in dis super special episode.
