Podcast

S2 Episode 4: Colin Mansbridge — Crusaders 🏉

on 17 Jun 2025

The Bold Company Podcast, hosted by Business Canterbury’s Hannah Weeds and Ruffells' Tim McInnes, offers a compelling glimpse into the dynamic world of Canterbury’s business community. In each episode, they sit down with visionaries driving innovation, resilience, and success in the region.

Season 2 Episode 4

What the Crusaders Can Teach Us About Culture, Leadership, and ‘Soft’ Skills

Culture is the backbone of high-performing teams. That’s one of the standout messages from a recent episode of the Bold Company podcast featuring Colin Mansbridge, CEO of the Crusaders.

From a team with one of the most iconic legacies in New Zealand sport, you'd expect a focus on performance, precision, and results. And yes, those are all there. But what Colin shares goes deeper, and it might just challenge how you think about leadership in your own business.

He talks openly about why culture deserves attention even when budgets are tight, how real relationships make hard conversations easier, and what the Crusaders’ rebrand was really about (hint: it goes way beyond visuals). There’s also a compelling look at how great teams intentionally work on culture, not just operate within it.

One moment that stuck with us was his take on ‘soft skills’. It’s a brilliant reminder that the so-called soft stuff, like communication, empathy, and trust, is often the hardest to get right.

“I’ve never heard a soft skill delivered softly.”

So, if you’re curious about what sets high-performing teams apart or how to lead with authenticity while still driving results, this is an episode worth your time.

🎧 Listen to Colin’s full episode on the Bold Company podcast. You’ll come away with fresh insight, whether you’re leading a team of five or five hundred.

The second season of the podcast is sponsored by Christchurch Airport – growing the engine room for Canterbury businesses and ChristchurchNZ, the city's economic development agency, shaping an economy where people and places thrive. And the lovely people at Ruffells, one of Christchurch’s leading creative studios, are helping us make this happen by recording and post-producing the series and bringing the good vibes.

You can find and subscribe to Bold Company on Spotify or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.