Why building a women’s ice hockey team is just like recruitment
If you have spent any time chatting with Tara McGregor-Sutton, our Business Development Manager for Otago and Southland, you will quickly realise two things:
She genuinely cares about putting people first.
She is utterly obsessed with ice hockey.
Tara hasn’t asked Richard to sponsor the team yet, but he likes the Rams, so maybe?
Having lived and worked across New Zealand, Australia, The Netherlands, and Canada, Tara brings a rich, global perspective to the Blokhaus team. After years of honing her interpersonal skills managing busy optometry clinics - where listening closely and stepping into someone else’s shoes was a daily requirement - she took on a fresh challenge in recruitment.
When she isn’t connecting businesses across Central Otago with top talent, she is dreaming of a brand-new women’s ice hockey league in Central.
At first glance, optometry, recruitment, and ice hockey might seem like a random trio. But the skills needed to build a winning line-up on the ice are the ones needed to build a brilliant team at work.
Here is why recruitment and recruiting a women’s ice hockey team are practically the same sport:
1. 20/20 vision: seeing the potential in people
Managing busy optometry clinics gave Tara a knack for zeroing in on individual needs. In recruitment, that means looking past a standard CV to understand what actually drives a candidate.
On the ice rink, it works the same way: you need a sharp eye to spot who has natural speed, who reads the plays well, and who brings the positive energy that holds the squad together.
2. Matching the right positions to the right strengths
You wouldn’t put a top-scoring forward in goal, just like you wouldn’t place a site manager into an office support role without checking if it fits their style.
Whether assembling a squad for Central Otago’s ice rinks or sourcing talent for an Otago civil project, Tara knows that success comes down to balance. It is all about putting people in positions where they can thrive, support their teammates, and win together.
3. Clear communication under pressure
Ice hockey is fast. Really fast. When plays are unfolding in split seconds, clear and direct communication is the only thing keeping everyone on the same page.
It turns out that managing recruitment pipelines across Otago and Southland isn’t much different. Tara’s approach is built on clear communication, complete honesty, and keeping things simple - so candidates and clients always know where they stand.
4. It takes a team to build a league
Rallying people together to start a brand-new women’s ice hockey league takes grit, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for connecting with people. You have to reach out, build trust, and inspire people to step outside their comfort zone.
That same energy is what makes Tara so effective at Blokhaus. She does not just fill vacancies; she builds lasting, trusting relationships across the region, making sure businesses and candidates feel supported every step of the way.
Keen to chat business - or lace up some skates?
Whether you are looking for your next career move, needing top-tier talent for your business in Otago or Southland, or happen to be a skilled skater wanting to join The Mighty Wanaka Ice Ducks (name still to be confirmed), Tara would love to connect!
Contact Tara: tara@blokhaus.co.nz | Phone: 027 676 5657
