Written by Kevin Lim and Kristian Kumar, School of Business students

In week 7, the School of Business programme went to The Blues headquarters to meet with and interview some of the core members in their crew, like Craig McGrath (Mr McGrath's brother), who is the assistant coach of the team, Rachel Facer, the GM of the operational department, and Katie Smith, who is the head of partners relations in the commercial department. Each of them shared insight about the processes and intricacies of what it meant to them to be a team, an integral principle and founding staple of their ideologies.

During the introduction, we were shown the 4 pillars of The Blues, what they refer to as their Blue Pride. 

• Rugby, with the value of “Te kapehu whetū”. 
• Deep roots in the community, with the value of operating as “one team”
• Grow and nurture our people, with the value of the “real self”.
• Zero reliance on ticket revenue, with the value of “staying on the waka”

The waka is very symbolic to the team and is what they describe as the fundamental core of their relationship. To work together, with efficiency and effectiveness, to propel their waka not as one but as a unit, a team.

During the Q&A session with the students, the speakers were asked, “What advice would they give to their younger selves?” Each of them related their advice to the trials and tribulations of their own youth and paid homage to the growth they had experienced through them. 

• “Surround yourself with people who love working” - Rachel Facer
• “Always say yes to everything for good opportunities, even if it means to miss out on fun" - Katy Smith
• "Support yourself, wherever you are. You are good enough to be there" - Craig McGrath

These quotes show the dedication and mindset of the people who have improved the team and the philosophies that guide their drive and work ethic.

A prominent quote that continued to be referred to in the trip was “When you’re winning, it flows, and when it's flowing, you’re winning” This mentality embodies the combined effort of the team to achieve and strive for bettering not only themselves but one-another, enhancing the cohesion of the team and enriching the quality of what makes them what they are. The fact that The Blues lean into and appreciate their identity as a New Zealand team brings the team closer together and allows them to appreciate the family-like bond they have come to develop through their time.