In this episode
In this powerful episode of Leadership Blueprint, Oliver Helvin sits down with Tim Bateman – former professional rugby player and founder of New Zealand’s fastest-growing wellness franchise, O-Studio.
Tim opens up about his transition from a 17-year rugby career to founding a purpose-driven business inspired by personal hardship. He shares the lessons learned from elite sport, building high-performance cultures, the power of emotional resilience, and why true performance is deeply tied to recovery and mental well-being.
Key Themes & Advice From the Episode:
Turn Adversity into Action: Tim’s wife’s illness made him realize that physical performance starts with mental health. This experience became the foundation of his business mission.
Performance = Wellness: Wellness is not a “nice to have”—it’s a performance tool. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or corporate leader, recovery is non-negotiable for sustainable results.
Leadership is Culture + Vulnerability: Tim shares lessons from playing with legends like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. The secret? Culture beats talent. Vulnerability builds trust. Performance follows.
Build, Test, Learn (Repeat): Tim reveals the importance of launching fast, collecting feedback, and continuously iterating—even when you feel uncomfortable. Waiting for perfection = missed opportunity.
Optimize Every Detail: A six-minute improvement in room changeover time led to exponential growth. From service flow to space utilization, every process matters.
Sound bites
Advice for future leaders & Transitioners
About Today’s Guest
Tim Bateman is the founder of O-Studio, a modern wellness franchise blending science-backed recovery tools like float therapy, saunas, and mindfulness training into a one-stop wellness destination.
Prior to business, Tim played professional rugby for nearly two decades with the Crusaders, Hurricanes, and teams in Japan. His leadership philosophy is rooted in empathy, culture-building, and continuous learning. With O-Studio, he’s on a mission to make wellness mainstream, measurable, and high-impact — not just for athletes, but for everyday professionals striving to live and perform better
The Leadership Blueprint: Navigating the Future
At “The Leadership Blueprint: Navigating the Future,” our mission is to empower current and aspiring leaders with the knowledge, insights, and strategies needed to navigate the complexities of leadership in an ever-evolving world.
Through engaging discussions, expert interviews, and practical advice, we aim to inspire individuals to lead with authenticity, innovation, and vision.
Our channel serves as a guiding beacon for those seeking to shape the future of leadership and make a meaningful impact in their organizations and communities.
Join us on this journey as we chart the course for effective leadership in the dynamic landscape of tomorrow.
