Xero Founder Sir Rod Drury: Fixing NZ’s Biggest Problems

Sir Rod Drury is one of New Zealand’s most influential business leaders, and genuinely one of the most fun and inspiring kiwis I’ve ever met through the podcast.

Whether you know the name or not, you most definitely know the company he founded when he was 40: Xero, a company that grew from a Wellington apartment into a global platform with over 4.5 million customers, thousands of employees and billions in revenue.

We talk about the Xero back story — how a skater boy from Hawkes Bay with a stutter built a global brand. But this conversation goes far beyond accounting software.

Recorded at his jaw-dropping property in Queenstown, Rod opens about identity after stepping away from Xero, the personal cost of building a global business, how he conquered a debilitating stutter, why he’s now focused on large-scale public good projects that could shape New Zealand for generations and so much more.

Rod is such a forward thinker, I got the impression he is bored by reflecting on what he has done and is much more energised by what he plans to do. So I appreciate him indulging me for this podcast by treading over some old ground.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about success, meaning, community, and what really matters when the grind slows down.

I left this podcast feeling so inspired and proud. It reminded me that there are some really cool, super talented Kiwis who love New Zealand and are doing what they can to make it the best little country on the planet.

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Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients — you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a game changer for me personally — I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.

You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser, so this is just general advice. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions. ***