Failure is nothing to be embarrassed about. It's part of life and it can be your greatest teacher.
Boxer, businessman, and proud Kiwi, Shane Cameron is a force forged by grit, heart, and hard-earned lessons.
Raised in the rural East Coast settlement of Tiniroto, Shane’s roots run deep – from Māori heritage through his mother of Rongomaiwahine descent, to strong Scottish lineage from his father. Growing up without a local boxing club, his early years were shaped by the land, not the ring. But at 19, during an OE in England, that all changed. Inspired by tales of his grandfather’s bare-knuckle boxing days in the 1930s, Shane strapped on gloves and stepped into the ring, launching a journey that would take him around the world.
Within just 18 months, he climbed to number three in England’s cruiserweight division and went on to win a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. That same year, he turned professional and The Mountain Warrior was born – a fighter known for courage, grit, and a granite chin. With 34 professional bouts, highlights include sparring with legends like Mike Tyson and David Haye, earning number one IBO mandatory challenger status, and fighting for a world title against Danny Green in 2012. Along the way, he picked up New Zealand’s Jamieson Belt for most scientific boxer in 2001.
Shane’s success wasn’t handed to him. Leaving school at 13, he learned his greatest lessons through challenge, failure, and relentless perseverance. He credits boxing with shaping his resilience, saying, “Failure is nothing to be embarrassed about… it's your greatest teacher.”
Since stepping away from the ring, Shane has channelled that same dedication into business. His ventures include Shane Cameron Fitness, Shane Cameron Promotions, and Counterpunch – a premium boxing gear line. Never one to slow down, he continues to inspire others through leadership, mentorship, and his belief in giving 100% to everything he does
Talking Points
Your mind is your most powerful tool
Shane Cameron draws on his personal experience as a professional athlete and entrepreneur for an inspiring and uplifting presentation on resilience and its transformative power.Your mind is your most powerful tool
Shane delivers key insights to propel you forward;
1. Life is What You Make It: Take control of your destiny by shaping your attitude and actions.
2. Never Stop Learning: Embrace lifelong learning for continuous growth and development.
3. Back Yourself: Confidence is crucial. Trust your abilities and instincts to pursue your dreams.
4. Surround Yourself with Good People: Build a supportive network for strength and inspiration.
5. Be One Step Ahead: Stay proactive and prepared to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.
Shane Cameron's speech offers practical wisdom and motivation to embrace resilience as your pathway to success.
What drives Shane
Shane Cameron’s early life was marked by adversity. At just 4 years old, his family found themselves living in a tent at Gisborne campgrounds after his father's altercation with his boss. Struggling with undiagnosed ADD and dyslexia, Shane faced educational challenges that made him doubt his own abilities. Yet, he harbored a fierce determination to prove himself, driven by an unshakeable belief that he was destined for greater things.What drives Shane
Growing up in rural surroundings, Shane initially aspired to be a shepherd. Despite leaving school at 15, with his mother's support, he embarked on a journey that took him to three significant sheep and cattle stations. However, fate intervened when he ventured to the UK for six months, which unexpectedly led him to the world of boxing.
For Shane, having a clear goal is paramount to success. He firmly believes that with determination and perseverance, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
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Shane Cameron CSNZ Highlights
Shane has it all, he's engaging, funny, has an important message. His story is inspirational and he is extremely funny as well. ... keep reading Barfoot & Thompson
Shane was one of the most down to earth people I have ever had as a guest speaker, His story was true and resonated with the audience. The feedback from the delegates was that this was a great choice, and they thoroughly enjoyed the story Shane had to tell.
We invited Shane to be guest motivational speaker at our annual New Zealand Automobile Association Motoring Services conference. The story of his journey from small town kiwi beginnings to international multi title holding heavy weight professional boxer was both entertaining and inspirational. Shane held the crowd with every line and provided an inspirational journey that all attendees in the room could relate to in both their personal and work life's going forward. There was no doubt when attendees left the room they were both inspired and motivated to succeed in life going forward.
Shane is great to work with - very authentic and down to earth. Easy to brief and happy to get amongst the guests at the event which makes for a memorable evening.
Our team really enjoyed having Shane at our event. His stories and delivery was on point for our team and having him as our guest really helped give our night that extra wow factor.
Shane was an incredibly engaging and skilled guest speaker. Our team left the session feeling that the content was not only relevant but also enjoyable and fun.
We engaged with Shane the Mountain Warrior Cameron to be our guest speaker this year for the Midas New Zealand conference, and Shane did more than deliver he exceeded our expectations, by going over and above. Shane joined us for our annual conference on Waiheke in August 2022, where he motivated and inspired all of our staff, delegates, suppliers and sponsors in a very professional manner. I highly recommend Shane to any business that is wanting to motivate and inspire their team, my team came away feeling very engaged and highly motivated. Shane has a great personal journey to share, that all us Kiwis can relate to and feel very proud of who we are and where we come from.
Shane was an inspiration, delivering his amazing story with humility and down-to-earth humour. He's one of NZ's genuine good-buggers.
Shane was incredible. He truly connected with the audience and presented in a way that was so true to who he is.
