Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin Raelene Castle: Trailblazing Sports CEO on Leadership Under Pressure & the Israel Folau Controversy
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In this episode of Lead On Purpose, I sit down with one of the most influential sport leaders in Australasia—Raelene Castle. A trailblazer who has shattered gender norms and led major sporting organisations on both sides of the Tasman, Raelene opens up about the power of sport, the lessons from failure, and what it truly means to lead with purpose.
From growing up in a sports-mad Kiwi household to becoming the first female CEO of an NRL team, Raelene shares her raw journey—including moments of triumph, controversy, and the behind-the-scenes realities of leadership.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How sport became Raelene’s foundation for resilience, leadership, and inclusion.
- Why failure is a necessary part of growth—and how to bounce back stronger.
- What it really takes to lead in high-performance, male-dominated environments.
- The inside story of the Israel Folau controversy and how values shape leadership.
- How to support young people in sport without crushing their joy or confidence.
Why You Should Listen:
Raelene doesn’t just talk about high performance—she lives it. Her career spans the leadership of Netball New Zealand, the Canterbury Bulldogs, Rugby Australia, and now Sport New Zealand. But beyond the titles, this is a story about courage, integrity, and showing up—even when it’s hard.
If you’re a parent, a coach, a leader, or someone striving to lead with more purpose and less ego—this conversation is a must-listen.
This episode was proudly sponsored by NZ Mortgages. You can contact them here - https://www.nzmortgages.co.nz
- Check out Sport New Zealand here - https://sportnz.org.nz
- Connect with Raelene on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raelene-castle-onzm-3a82441b/?originalSubdomain=nz
- Get the Growth Weekly Newsletter sent straight to your inbox and join 1000’s of other high-performers on the road to self-mastery - https://www.jjlaughlin.com/newsletter
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Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/
Send me a personal text message
- If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.com