Sam Barclay at the Business School, September 2024
Taking his father’s advice and travelling to Central Otago to pick fruit, after finishing high school, proved a life-changing decision for Otago alumnus Sam Barclay (BA/LLB Hons).
Many of his co-workers on the orchard were preparing to head to Otago to study and they encouraged him to change his plans for Auckland University study and enjoy a true student experience.
With fruit picking pausing for the holiday break, Sam travelled to Dunedin and stayed at University College. He says while there he charmed the front desk receptionist and convinced them to offer him a place at the college for the next year.
Sam says if he hadn’t travelled south, he would not have met his future wife, Maria Barclay (nee Carthy, originally from Christchurch) who is also an Otago law alumnus.
They have been together for more than 35 years and have shared many adventures since college days.
Sam took an active role in university life, especially in the Society of Otago University Law Students (SOULS), where he was Social Coordinator. He helped organise student camps and the annual Law School ball.
Sam says after a wonderful year at University College he spent four years flatting in the University quarter.
“Many of my closest friends today were formed during that first year at Unicol.”
Sam says his family have strong ties to the south. His father, Bill Barclay, grew up in North Otago and attended Waitaki Boys’ High School, before eventually owning a farm in South Auckland.
After completing his studies in 1993, Sam worked for an Auckland software company, which was taken over by an American business. So, in 1997 he and Maria moved to live in greater New York. At this time Sam worked for the software firm in New Jersey and Maria worked at a major law firm in Manhattan.
Sam says after 20 wonderful years in New York the couple decided to return to New Zealand, so their sons Peter and Oliver could attend high school and be closer to their cousins and grandparents.
Peter is now 21 and a fourth-year Law and Commerce student at Otago, while Oliver is 19 and studying engineering at Canterbury University.
The weekend following Sam’s week as a guest lecturer at Otago, Peter completed the Dunedin marathon.
“I absolutely love the US and New York is just a spectacular city, which we still thoroughly enjoy.”
Through his current role as Stayinfront Chief Growth Officer, Sam still travels to New York up to six times a year for work.
He runs the global sales team, and while he had a three-year hiatus working for some NZ companies, he returned to Stayinfront in 2020.
He says the nature of his job means he’s often working early in the day to make the most of the US time zones and working Saturday morning to catch up with Friday afternoon there.
Sam had a busy week at the Business School giving six special lectures and judging the Audacious programme startup awards and has had numerous meetings with students and staff.
“I hope it’s been as valuable to the students and staff as it has been for me.
“It’s been an excellent opportunity and I’ve been able to do my normal job during the day and the engagements have all been in the afternoon or evening, so it has worked in great.
“It’s been fantastic, it’s been really well scheduled, well organised. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time. It’s been a magical experience; I am very grateful to the University.”
He says the most interesting thing about the week was engaging with a range of Otago Commerce students, from first years right through to those undertaking PhDs.