You split your time between the UK and New Zealand. How does it feel to be back home at this time of year?
This is the best time of the year to be here in New Zealand, between December and March. It’s lovely to be home to see friends and to reconnect. Last year, and for some of the beginning of 2021, we were here for seven months because of COVID-19. And it just made us really appreciate how beautiful this country is.

What were some standout moments of this last year for you?
In my business, sport, it was really inspiring to see how people dealt with COVID and situations that they'd never thought they'd have to. Things like doing a PCR test four times a week just to be able to go to work. And then another highlight has to be the actual sporting competitions themselves. I loved watching the cricket in the summer in the UK with New Zealand doing so well. In the Test cricket final it was so special to see little old New Zealand punching above its weight again.

Looking back on 2021, what were the key lessons you learned?
COVID taught us some really hard lessons and some really good lessons in terms of how important your friends are. I made a point, especially during the lockdowns, to focus on connecting with people again who you might not have spoken to for a long time. I really enjoyed that, reconnecting with old mates, because everyone's normally so busy that you don't really get the opportunity to do that. And overall, I think the year also made us really appreciate what we've got.Splitting his time between the UK and New Zealand has helped Sean to appreciate the beauty of his home country.

What are your goals for 2022?
I always talk about getting out of bed in the morning and wanting today to be better than what it was yesterday. It’s an easy thing to say, but it can be a hard thing to do – but why not? The All Blacks are a good testament to that, that the way we did it yesterday is not good enough to win tomorrow.

What advice would you give someone who wants to make the most of the next year?
My advice going forward into 2022 is to make the most of every opportunity and that you have to enjoy life. Take opportunities. Don’t think about “sometimes” or “I'll do it tomorrow”, or “I don't really need that” or “this is too hard”. Just make it work.

You’ve been a Mercedes driver for a long time, what’s exciting you about the future?
I am an absolute petrol head. I get one car and I’m already thinking about the next. I love cars, I love Mercedes, I love AMG, I’ve spent a lot of time driving the Mercedes-AMG GLE SUV, I think the Mercedes-AMG C 63 is the best saloon car around – but I am blown away by the Mercedes electric vehicles that are already here and what’s coming next. All Mercedes models will be electrified by 2030 and I’m absolutely sold on the electric future that is around the corner.