Joel

My name is Joel Michael Nadin-Harvey.

I grew up hungry—hungry for education, hungry to be able to buy things, and sometimes even hungry in my belly. But I didn’t grow up poor as such. I was very fortunate and had many good things going for me, largely thanks to generous people at key points in my life. I’ve only met my biological father once or twice, but I had a truckload of half-brothers and half-sisters on his side. Thankfully, I had strong father figures growing up. My grandfather was a central father figure who helped raise me.

My mother once told me, “If you get a job, you can leave school.” So, at fifteen years old, I landed a bakery apprenticeship, left home, and dropped out of school that very day.

I had no clear plan back then, but I had one dream: to become a Thai kickboxing world champion. I started kickboxing and absolutely loved it. I eventually traveled to Thailand, where I met genuine world champions. Seeing those elite fighters working as security guards and taxi drivers was an eye-opener. It opened my mind to the reality that there might be other paths in life for me.

Around that time, my grandfather told me the story of Al Capone and the Valentine’s Day Massacre. When I asked if that was why Capone went to prison, he explained that he actually went away for tax evasion. That single detail stuck with me.

Inspired to change direction, I returned to school as an adult and majored in accounting and taxation. That choice led to a successful career in banking, working with Deloitte, top New Zealand banks, and payment solutions.

Looking back, I realize how gifted my life has been, simply by being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people. Giving back feels like my duty. I still train in martial arts and stay deeply involved in the community by running promotions. My main mission now is helping youth who practice martial arts by showing them pathways to education and offering the mentorship they need to succeed.