Lead on Purpose with James Laughlin

One NZ CEO Jason Paris on Elon Musk, AI Innovation & the Power of Creativity in Business

James Laughlin

Pre-order my new book Habits of High Performers here - www.thehabitbook.com 


What if the secret to high performance isn’t balance—but choice?


In this episode, I sit down with Jason Paris, CEO of One New Zealand, to unpack leadership, creativity, and building partnerships at a world-class level.


Jason’s led one of NZ’s largest organisations through rapid change—while refusing to miss a single moment that matters with his family. From turning Vodafone into One NZ to forging game-changing deals with Starlink and Salesforce, his approach blends bold moves with deep human values.


Here’s what we cover:


  • Why work-life balance is a myth—and what to focus on instead
  • The role creativity plays in high-performing teams
  • The pitch that landed a world-first partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink
  • How to adopt AI with speed, experimentation, and purpose
  • Handling public criticism while staying grounded and human


If you’re ready to rethink leadership, scale impact, and stay true to your values, this conversation is packed with lessons from the top—and the heart.



Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/


James Laughlin is a High Performance Leadership Coach, Former 7-Time World Champion, Host of the Lead On Purpose Podcast and an Executive Coach to high performers and leaders. James is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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