Young Kiwi lands spot on Forbes list
Auckland creative agency founder Sam Stuchbury is the only New Zealander to secure a spot in Forbes‘ ‘‘30 Under 30 Asia’’ list of creative ‘‘disruptors’’.
It ranks him among the 600 most dynamic young people in the Asia-Oceania region.
It’s a far cry from last year’s list which featured eight Kiwis including singer Lorde, rugby player Beauden Barrett and choreographer Parris Goebel.
The annual list published by Forbes is split into sub-groups of 30 people who have risen to early prominence in their fields of endeavour, ranging from business to sport. Stuchbury was one of the 30 named in the ‘‘media, marketing and advertising’’ section of this year’s list.
Others named in that category include 25-year-old Chinese entrepreneur Anni Chen, whose anime website now has 100 million subscribers, and Australian Tara Baker, the founder of an LGBTQ+ bridal magazine.
Stuchbury, now aged 27, set up his Motion Sickness creative agency in 2014 during his last year at the University of Otago.
The agency has worked with clients Les Mills, Blunt Umbrellas, I Love Ugly, Jim Beam, Scapegrace Gin and Dunedin Tourism on social media campaigns.
‘‘A few months ago they [Forbes] got in touch to let me know I’d been nominated,’’ Stuchbury said, but then he heard nothing more. His reaction when word came through? ‘‘I’m stoked, and to be the only Kiwi is great.’’
There was something a little Stephen Donald about the moment. The Beaver was out whitebaiting when the All Blacks were trying to call him to play in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.
Stuchbury was also in a mobile phone blackout zone when Forbes was trying to contact him with news of his making the 30 Under 30 list, away camping in New Zealand’s hinterland.
Being on the list gets Stuchbury a place at the July Forbes‘ 30 Under 30 Summit in Hong Kong, but he won’t be going alone.
He’ll attend the event with the two other directors of Motion Sickness – his best friend, Alex McManus, and his life and business partner, Hilary Ngan Kee.
‘‘Some people say don’t go into business with family and friends, but it’s worked out really well,’’ Stuchbury said.
The summit will offer networking opportunities, which fits well into Motion Sickness’ aim of becoming an internationally renowned creative agency.
‘‘We have never really had a formal business plan. We have just done what felt right,’’ Stuchbury said.