From Cabin Crew to 50 Marathons: Rosie Hay on Building a Life You Love

At eleven years old, Rosie Hay boarded a plane for the first time on a family trip to Rarotonga and fell in love with flying. Years later, after struggling with confidence at school and questioning her academic ability, Rosie discovered what could happen when she found something she genuinely cared about. Today, Rosie has spent nearly two decades working in aviation and is an experienced Air New Zealand flight attendant. But her journey into the skies wasn't straightforward. In this episode of The Guest Speaker, Rosie takes us behind the cabin door to explain what life as a flight attendant actually looks like - from breaking into the industry and navigating group interviews, redundancy and an unpredictable aviation sector, to shift work, safety training, medical emergencies and balancing a flying career with motherhood. Rosie also shares the other passion that has transformed her life: running. What began as a way to get fit became an important source of wellbeing, community and purpose. Fifty marathons later, Rosie has completed some of the world's most iconic races and now runs as a guide through Achilles International, supporting athletes with disabilities through training and across finish lines. This is a conversation about aviation, resilience, running and learning that struggling in one environment doesn't determine what you're capable of in another. For students considering a career as cabin crew, Rosie offers an honest look at what the job really involves and the many different pathways available within aviation.