Anna Mowbray on ZURU’s Origin Story, Life in China, Parenting with Ali Williams, Auckland FC & More!
Episode Description
Anna Mowbray. A farm kid from the Waikato who has grown up to be one of New Zealand’s most formidable entrepreneurs and businesspeople.
Her and her 2 brothers established Zuru and worked tirelessly to grow it into one of the biggest toy companies in the world.
Now she is building another brand from the ground up- Zeil, an app for job hunters.
This was an honour. Anna has done a few podcasts before, but they have all been business related. This is her first ever podcast where we got to learn a bit more about the person behind the jaw-dropping success.
We covered all the important stuff like why she went to see Taylor Swift in Sydney even though she’s not a Swiftie.
Her childhood in Tokoroa and Cambridge
The early years of the Zuru in China
How her and All Black Ali Williams got together and his memorable first impression- what she loves and hates about him.
How they manage to blend families and run a household with five kids, and not spoil the kids. And so much more!
Anna is a total weapon. Not to mention bloody good fun and I really appreciated her time, so I hope you guys enjoy this conversation.
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Brief Summary
Anna Mo discusses her journey from business to personal life, parenting, and her upcoming wedding to Ali Williams.
Key points
- Unlocking Potential in New Zealand. The conversation shifts to empowering youth and creating opportunities in sports.
- Childhood Antics. Creative mischief with the babysitter led to memorable childhood competitions.
- Unexpected Career Advice. A vet's surprising advice changed Anna's career path forever.
- Life in China. Anna shares her challenging yet exhilarating experiences living in China.
- The Journey to Success. Success starts small and evolves over time. Commitment and consistency are key.
- The Tipping Point of Robo Fish. Robo Fish became a massive success, selling 30 million units in 18 months.
Ask about Dom Harvey
Episode highlights
- Unlocking Potential in New ZealandThe conversation shifts to empowering youth and creating opportunities in sports.“There’s opportunity in places that you don’t necessarily see it.”4:10Jul 20, 2024
- Childhood AnticsCreative mischief with the babysitter led to memorable childhood competitions.“We used to have competitions to see who could sneak pancakes.”18:25Jul 20, 2024
- Unexpected Career AdviceA vet's surprising advice changed Anna's career path forever.“I'm not going to let you become a vet.”20:04Jul 20, 2024
- Life in ChinaAnna shares her challenging yet exhilarating experiences living in China.“Living in China was always exciting and exhilarating.”35:11Jul 20, 2024
- The Journey to SuccessSuccess starts small and evolves over time. Commitment and consistency are key.“It's all about those consistent movements that lead to success.”37:24Jul 20, 2024
- The Tipping Point of Robo FishRobo Fish became a massive success, selling 30 million units in 18 months.“This was a phenomenal product; it was a massive tipping point for us.”42:02Jul 20, 2024
- Defending Intellectual PropertyThe battle for IP rights can be fierce, but standing firm is crucial.“I told him, 'You're scum,' and we would not be backing down.”48:53Jul 20, 2024
- Building Something IncredibleCreating something exceptional with family is rare and exhilarating.“To build something so phenomenal is rare and exceptional.”54:17Jul 20, 2024





