Marketing leader, motivational speaker and storyteller

Overview

Jason Buckley is a New Zealand marketing leader, motivational speaker and storyteller whose own journey, from a kid with a speech impediment and a target on his back to senior marketing roles in some of New Zealand's most colourful brands, makes him a compelling voice on resilience, reinvention and self-belief.

Who is Jason Buckley? Jason has navigated an unusually varied career, moving from hairdressing into rugby management and then into marketing leadership, including the role of Head of Marketing at Hell Pizza. Along the way he has worked through speech impediments, bullying and the kind of doubts most of us never speak about — and turned each into fuel. He now combines his marketing expertise with his personal story to help audiences find and back their own version of "superpowers".

Career Highlights • Former Head of Marketing at Hell Pizza, one of NZ's most distinctive brands • Career spanning hairdressing, rugby management and senior marketing roles • Speaker on resilience, self-discovery and personal transformation • Coach and mentor to emerging leaders and creatives • Long-time advocate for kids and adults facing speech and learning challenges • Regularly invited as a keynote, panellist and MC at NZ events

Key Speaking Themes • Resilience and bouncing back from adversity • Finding your "superpowers" and self-belief • Building distinctive brands and challenging the status quo • Mental health, bullying and personal transformation • Marketing, storytelling and the power of standing out

What Your Audience Will Gain Jason is warm, funny and refreshingly honest about the messy bits of life and career. Audiences leave reminded that setbacks are not the end of the story — and with practical ideas on how to back themselves harder.

Ideal For • Sales kick-offs and team offsites • Marketing and brand conferences • Youth, school and tertiary events • Wellbeing and resilience events • Awards nights, gala dinners and MC roles

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Jason Buckley speak about? Resilience, self-discovery, marketing, brand building and personal transformation, drawing on his own story of overcoming adversity.

What is Jason Buckley's background? A varied career across hairdressing, rugby management and senior marketing roles, including Head of Marketing at Hell Pizza.

Why is Jason Buckley's story compelling? He overcame speech impediments and bullying at a young age and used those experiences to fuel a career across very different industries.

What audiences resonate with Jason Buckley? Anyone navigating change or adversity — including sales teams, marketers, young people and leadership groups looking for a candid, motivating voice.

What style does Jason Buckley bring to the stage? Warm, funny and direct, with a strong narrative arc and clear takeaways audiences can use back at work or home.

Is Jason Buckley available as an MC? Yes. Jason is regularly booked as a keynote speaker and MC for corporate, community and youth events.