Izzy Whitley
Roles: Speaker
Themes: Business, Innovation, Lifestyle & Wellbeing, Motivation
Izzy Whitley is one of New Zealand’s most successful young entrepreneurs, building two businesses that now generate more than $30 million in annual revenue before the age of 30.
Raised in a strict Christian household in Gisborne, Izzy left home at just 16 to pursue a football career before eventually dropping out of university. His early twenties were marked by significant personal hardship, including the loss of his father to suicide and two heart attacks of his own — experiences that forced him to rebuild his life from the ground up.
With just $500 to his name, Izzy started a labour hire business on his own. What began with a single employee quickly grew into Aotearoa Labour Hire, a nationwide operation with multiple branches across New Zealand and ambitions to expand further.
Along the way he has developed strong relationships with business leaders, including former Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, who has mentored him during his rapid rise.
Izzy’s story is one of resilience, discipline and relentless work ethic. On stage he shares the lessons he has learned about leadership, mindset and building a business from nothing — offering a candid perspective on both the highs and the hard realities of entrepreneurship.
