Community Networking Event: Riders in Finance
The Challenge
The finance industry is notoriously high-pressure. As a broker, you’re always on the move - if it’s not dealing with piles of paperwork or rigorous compliance, it’s back-to-back meetings with clients. It’s a challenging and stressful role. Yet the industry culture often treats vulnerability as weakness, discouraging open conversations about mental health and work-life balance. The challenge was to create something different: an event that would help professionals de-stress, connect on a personal level, and build a genuine sense of community where mental wellbeing conversations could emerge naturally rather than feeling forced.
What I Delivered
The event brought together around 100 industry professionals including brokers, lenders, and industry representatives for a morning ride from Broughton Street Lookout to Bobbin Head Picnic Ground in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The event was designed to be inclusive, with options for both two-wheeled and four-wheeled transport, plus the option to join directly at the picnic ground for family-friendly activities. A key highlight was a keynote session on staff mental health from Darryl Lovegrove, Managing Director (CEO) of Yamaha Motor Australia, who attended in a personal capacity rather than representing the company. The event was opened not just to Hai Money brokers but to professionals across the industry, creating a relaxed yet professional atmosphere with BBQ, food catering, and coffee trucks on site. The event secured media coverage including MPA’s feature “Mortgage brokers rev up network building at rider event,” successfully demonstrating a new way to network, bond, and share experiences outside the usual work setting.
The Breakthrough Moment
The event created exactly the dynamic intended. Attendees arrived excited to ride with fellow professionals, something you don’t come across every day. The combination of engaging activities (riding, picnics, and networking) fostered a real sense of camaraderie in a relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere. Then something remarkable happened naturally: conversations shifted from bikes and routes to how riding helps them de-stress, letting the wind carry away workplace pressures. The adrenaline rush reminded them why they love what they do. Riding with fellow professionals created permission to connect on a personal level rather than just formal business interactions, opening doors to genuine conversations about managing stress, prioritising mental and physical wellbeing, and supporting one another through the challenges of high-pressure finance careers. This was reinforced by Darryl Lovegrove’s keynote on staff mental health, which provided valuable insights on supporting wellbeing from a leadership perspective. Industry leader Peter White, FBAA Managing Director and mental health advocate, recognised this value, noting how connecting likeminded people in social groups provides invaluable support for mental health challenges.
The Results
The inaugural Riders in Finance event successfully established a new annual tradition for the industry. The event brought together around 100 industry professionals including brokers, lenders, and industry representatives. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees highlighting how refreshingly different the event felt compared to typical professional gatherings. Industry partners praised the innovative approach of combining engaging activities with professional networking, noting it fostered valuable connections and creativity in a relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere.
The event secured media coverage in MPA with the feature “Mortgage brokers rev up network building at rider event,” reaching thousands across Australia’s broking community. Most importantly, the event demonstrated that breaking from conventional networking formats can create stronger professional bonds, with attendees continuing to meet up for group rides afterwards, building an ongoing support network that provides lasting value beyond a single day’s event.
Why It Worked
The event’s success stemmed from understanding what finance professionals genuinely need. Specificity created belonging. Targeting motorcycle-riding finance professionals was deliberately niche, but that specificity meant attendees immediately felt they’d found their tribe. As one sponsor noted, the innovative approach of combining engaging activities with professional networking fostered valuable connections and creativity in a relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere.
The venue choice was strategic. Moving from city streets to national park paths served as a powerful metaphor. Just as riders find clarity on the open road, brokers gained fresh perspectives when stepping outside conventional business settings. The choice reinforced that support shouldn’t be constrained by traditional corporate environments.
Mental health through connection, not intervention. Rather than formal workshops about stress management, the event created an environment where wellbeing conversations emerged organically when people bonded over shared passions. Events like this go beyond typical professional interactions, helping break down formal barriers and allowing brokers to establish trust and feel a sense of belonging within the industry.
Finally, designing for ongoing community rather than one-time networking proved essential. The event aligned perfectly with Hai Money’s values of support, community, and wellbeing, showing brokers we’re here for their journey both on and off the road. Attendees continued meeting for group rides afterwards, creating lasting support networks that extend far beyond business card exchanges.
What I Learned
This project demonstrated that passion-driven events create instant recognition and belonging. Ask a biker about the appeal of the open road and the answer often shows it’s more of a calling than a hobby. The camaraderie and equality between riders of all stripes creates something spiritual. Riding offers a unique way to de-stress, letting the wind carry away pressures while the adrenaline rush reminds people why they love what they do. It’s a feeling every rider can understand, and that instant recognition when finding likeminded enthusiasts is powerful.
The experience reinforced that reimagining traditional formats creates meaningful connections. The positive reception points to a broader trend in the finance sector where traditional networking formats are being reimagined. The combination of professional development with personal interests represents a shift in how industry relationships are built and maintained, with people craving connections beyond professional personas.
Most importantly, the event showed that aligning values with action creates lasting impact. The event aligned perfectly with values of support, community, and wellbeing, showing brokers there’s support for their journey both on and off the road. This helped brokers feel empowered and inspired to be part of a broking community, building a sense of unity that extends far beyond typical business development outcomes.