For Caroline Kolver (Harington | Fitchett 2018–2019, Deputy Head Girl), sport has always been about more than competition. It is about bringing people together, creating opportunities and being part of something positive. Caroline was recently back at St Paul’s in a professional capacity, working behind the scenes to organise sporting events and support the action from the sidelines. Her visit gave us the opportunity to catch up with her and hear more about her journey since leaving school. 

Today, Caroline works as a Marketing and Project Coordinator for Waddell, a New Zealand company founded by Olympic gold medallist Rob Waddell, working across sport, sponsorship, events and broadcast with Whakaata Māori. Through the New Zealand Sport Collective, Waddell connects sporting organisations, schools and sponsors to create greater opportunities for young people to participate in sport, bringing around 140 events to life each year.

Reflecting on this, Caroline says, “The social good aspect really tied me to the job; I love meeting new people and making connections, and I enjoy sports myself.”

It is a purpose she can relate to personally. Caroline joined St Paul’s in Year 12, where she competed in athletics and played netball. She particularly enjoyed having compulsory sport as part of school life and the opportunities it gave students to get involved. Now, she finds herself contributing to those experiences from the other side, helping bring sporting events together rather than taking part in them herself. The combination of sport, marketing, events and people has proved to be a good fit.

For Caroline, the finished event is only one part of the picture. Much of her work happens behind the scenes, from coordinating people and managing relationships to working with sponsors to bring each event together.

“There’s so much hard work and behind the scenes that goes into it, and when you see it all come together, it’s pretty cool to see.” She says. 

Caroline did not originally see herself working in events. After St Paul’s, she studied a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing with double minors in Leadership and Agribusiness at the University of Waikato. She later completed an internship with the Balloons Over Waikato team, gaining valuable event experience as part of an all-women team.

“I never really saw myself ending up in events,” Caroline says. “You just need the ability to get stuck in and get on with it.” In the event line of work. 

She enjoys being part of an environment where people are doing something they love. She says seeing people out on the field and enjoying themselves is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

That willingness to put herself forward is something Caroline also developed during her time at St Paul’s. Joining in Year 12, she quickly built strong relationships with her teachers, friends and housemasters Mr and Mrs Lewis, who encouraged her to apply for a prefect role despite only having been at the school for a year. She went on to become Deputy Head Girl.

Reflecting on that pivotal decision, Caroline positively says, “Look where it got me.”

Looking ahead, Caroline hopes to remain in the sporting industry, with an interest in national sporting organisations, partnership management, events and sponsorship.

For someone who never expected to work in events, Caroline has found a career that brings together the things she values most: sport, people, connection and creating opportunities for others. 

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