Moving to the other side of the world is hard, it takes courage, risk, persistence, and a little self-belief. As someone who has rolled the dice, and has been through these challenges, I wanted to be an advocate and a helping hand for those wanting to do the same with their great ideas and businesses. Kiwis abroad tend to share a tight-knit bond, an inherited kinship based on the little Island Nation that we come from, in essence, we are all mates out in the big wide world, and mates stick together.
What is mate all about?
Who is mate?
Hi, my name is Matt Sims, creator of mate.
Being born and raised in NZ, and like many kiwi’s, I caught the bug for exploration, and I wanted to see what else was out there for me…. so, in 2011 I took the plunge and moved to Canada in pursuit of pristine bike trails, snowy peaks, and with a desire to fulfill my Sports Marketing dreams.
You wouldn’t bloody believe it, I actually landed my dream job two years later, like the stuff of legend. And so from 2015 through to 2020 I worked for the Global athleisure giant lululemon, out of their Vancouver HQ, on the Global Marketing team, focused on building and running a global athlete program (Sports Marketing). If you ever get the chance to work with a brand that is on a rocket ship, do it. Witnessing and being a key part of a brand growing from 1 billion to 4 billion in five years was incredible.
After a strategic move to the US during the pandemic in 2020, I embarked on a lengthy visa journey in pursuit of my Green Card, a journey not for the faint-hearted (18 months). Fortunately, my time was spent doing renovations, landscaping, riding bikes, and lending some knowledge to a couple of small businesses.
In 2022 I joined Fox Racing, a brand I had idolized as a youngster in NZ, and even as an adult, racing bikes in Canada. As Global Marketing manager. I was able to influence, orchestrate, and guide this legacy brand to new heights during the post-pandemic era.
Coupled with my experience, my most valued resource is actually my connections. Forged and fostered over the years, spanning industries and brands, these relationships are the currency of success and of the future.