Old Scholar Spotlight - Harry Quayle

If I didn’t do what I did in the past, then I wouldn’t know what I know now.

From reality TV to running his own business, Harry’s journey since leaving St Mark’s has been anything but ordinary. After completing a university degree (which he jokes is “in the bin”), Harry realised the traditional path wasn’t for him. Instead, he carved out his own lane as the Founder and Director of a business dedicated to creating impact that lasts well beyond today.

In this profile, Harry shares candid reflections on his time at St Mark’s (in his words: “Gee whiz, that kid had fun!”), the lessons he’s carried into life after school, and the advice he’d give to anyone chasing their own entrepreneurial dream.

Short & Sweet

• Class of: 2019
• House: Challen
• Tertiary education: A Uni Degree which is in the bin… but plenty of YouTube, Books and Mentors!
• Current role: Founder and Director
• Music you are currently listening to: Justin Bieber and Fred Again ... That sums me up!
• Dream dinner guest: Steve Jobs & Kobe Bryant
• Favourite subject at school: Maths, Business and Psychology, loved them all
• Your experience at St Mark’s in six words: Gee whiz, that kid had fun!

A Little Longer

Could you please share your experience at St Mark’s with us?
I loved my time at St Mark's, and I am not saying this because I'm literally writing this for the school, but I tell anyone I meet how much I loved high school.

Although who I was, what I was doing, thinking and feeling, is completely different to who I am today, but that’s the point! Growth happens. I had so much fun, I had a solid group of boys during high school, and I actually enjoyed my studies. I definitely went through a transition, as I am sure plenty of the teachers and students can vouch for! But St Mark’s was elite!

Where has life after St Mark’s taken you? Were you certain about what career path you wanted to follow?
Life after St Mark’s has been a rollercoaster in the best way.

I went straight into university and studied for four years, landed what many would call a “dream job,” and then realised pretty quickly it wasn’t my dream at all. On paper, I had everything I thought I wanted: stability, a career path, something impressive to tell people. But I didn’t feel fulfilled.

During this period, I was doing plenty of the standard partying, travelling, etc..

Went on a reality TV show… and then, amongst other outside factors, realised that I wanted so much more from life than just working the same job for 30 years.

I was never certain about my path. I am still not certain. But that’s the beauty of it … Because the price of freedom is uncertainty. You just have to be willing to ride that wave of uncertainty, listen to the voice inside you, and just keep moving forward with different things that make you feel alive.

How do you think St Mark’s prepared you for life after school?
I have never once used a TEEL Structure, I haven’t used Pythagoras' theory, or needed to work out the volume of a triangular prism very often, but what school prepared me for was beyond theory. What I learnt in Year 12 was that the more work you put in, the better results you'll see. That prepared me for life, as it taught me the power of doing more, staying consistent and taking responsibility for my results.

School also prepared me in a way that I realised my true motivation. In Year 12, I never had anyone holding me accountable to study … my parents never nagged me, I didn’t need a specific ATAR for any reason, but I wanted to do well for myself. I wanted to prove to myself that I could be the best if I put in the work, and to this day, when I am feeling flat and hit a wall, my motivation kicks in, reminding me that I do it for myself.

That was more of an internal realisation I had made, and it holds me in good stead, knowing I am in full control of my path.

What is your fondest memory of your time at St Mark’s?
Honestly, the last 2-3 months of Year 12. Not because I was excited for it to end, actually, the opposite. It was a special time.

Friendship groups blended together, and relationships with teachers became more genuine; everyone seemed connected by a shared goal. I think the looming reality that it was all coming to an end made us appreciate each other more.

Life is better when we live as if our time together is limited, and the back end of Year 12 showed that. It makes you more present and grateful. But I feel as though we should live like that all the time. Be present, treat each other like humans (as simple as it sounds), and remember that we are all here for the first and last time, together, so just connect and enjoy the ride.

What has been one of the most impactful stories or moments you've experienced through your mentoring work?
One story that stays with me is from the mum of a boy we mentor. I once told her I wanted to leave a legacy, to make an impact so meaningful that people speak of you when you’re not around.

Her response floored me: “Harry, you’re not just leaving a legacy. You’re impacting generations.”

She went on to explain that her family’s whole approach to parenting had shifted because of our work. Her son will parent differently, which will shape his children, and their children’s children. This boy came from a background of domestic violence and drug abuse, yet to hear his mum say that gave me immense gratitude for the trust we hold, and renewed drive to keep creating intergenerational impact.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
When I first started Blues & Greens, I came to a crossroads: should I keep my full-time job (the one I went to university for), or quit and pursue the work I truly loved?

Someone close to me gave me advice that cemented my decision: “You live in your body 24/7, 365 days a year. Make the decision you can live with because you’re the only one who truly knows best.”

That’s stuck with me ever since. Back yourself and trust that voice inside you.

What advice do you have for students wanting to pursue a career in a similar field to yours?
Do it.
If you want to start your own business or entrepreneurial journey, then listen to that voice inside you.
It is going to be so far from perfect to begin with, and it never will be perfect. But just start.

Do something every day towards your goal, and along the way you’ll make thousands of mistakes, you’ll waste time, money, sleep and energy, but when it is towards something you love, something you're passionate about, and something you go to bed thinking about, then it is all worth it. Do so much volume that it would be unreasonable for you to fail.

What skills or mindsets do you think will be most valuable for young people in the next 10 years?

• Humility: knowing you don’t know everything, and being willing to learn from anyone.
• Communication: listening more than you speak.
• Self-learning: the ability to teach yourself. With AI, YouTube, books, and podcasts, you can learn almost anything today. The real skill is filtering the noise and applying what matters.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My future self. If I were to boil the word inspiration down, it is someone or something that makes you want to do something. Everything I do today, is for my future self. My future self, who is old, sits with his children and grandchildren, and can proudly say that I left no stone unturned. I have many cool and amazing stories, & I have impacted millions of people across the world.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career or studies?
Nup! I don’t regret a thing, because if I didn't go to uni, and do work that I didn’t like, then I wouldn’t have come to the realisation so quickly that this is what I want to do. If I didn’t do what I did in the past, then I wouldn’t know what I know now.

When you are not working, where can we find you?
Sleeping