PAST PLAYERS IN BUSINESS | Nick Maxwell - Eclat

Premiership captain Nick Maxwell carries leadership lessons into stylish start-up

By Martin Pegan

Nick Maxwell, by his own admission, was a steady rather than spectacular footballer.

Now the former Collingwood skipper focuses on style as much as substance as chief executive of Eclat, a members-only workspace and hospitality venue designed with luxury in mind.

At first glance the start-up business might appear to be at odds with Maxwell’s past as a dependable defender, but his leadership role allows him to build on lessons learned across 20 years in the AFL.

Words of advice from Magpies coach Mick Malthouse early in Maxwell’s captaincy put him on a path to becoming a respected leader and still guide him today.

“I was named captain for 2009 but, after about five or six weeks, I hadn't started the season very well,” Maxwell told AFL Connect.

“Mick pulled me aside and said 'we made you captain because of who you are, not who we think you're going to be, so don't think you have to be someone different. Just believe in who you are and what you're doing, and that'll be enough for you'.”

Maxwell earned a first All-Australian nod later that season, and the following year lifted the AFL premiership trophy.

After retiring from playing in 2014, the Collingwood rookie-turned-premiership captain’s off-field roles included being a leadership coach at Greater Western Sydney and NRL club Melbourne Storm.

“I think we build up leadership as the big speech in front of everyone,” Maxwell said.

“When I started with the emerging leaders group at the Storm, they were all 23, 24-year-olds. The senior leaders were Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, basically the three captains of Queensland and Australia.

“The younger guys were looking at them and thinking ‘that's what leadership is, and that’s unreachable’. But they were looking at the finished product.

“Leadership is about taking small steps, the one-percenters, towards the big inspirational speech.”

BLACK AND WHITE

Maxwell trained with Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and Geelong before being offered a spot on the Magpies’ rookie list in 2002.

While he had to push aside barriers to be given his first shot at playing AFL, the 40-year-old finds doors swing open much more freely these days.

“It's a great conversation starter,” Maxwell said about having an acclaimed career with the Magpies.

“I can cold call or message people on LinkedIn, and straight away they want to know more.

“If they're a Collingwood supporter, I've obviously got my foot in the door. If they’re a Collingwood hater, then they want to be able to tell their mates that they caught up with me and gave me stick.

“That's where Collingwood is a great leveller.”

COLLINGWOOD FOREVER

Maxwell left Collingwood in the middle of 2022 to launch Eclat, which takes its name from the French word meaning ‘to be brilliant’.

Eclat offers private and communal office spaces, catered meeting rooms, a members lounge and private bar, a café/restaurant, and insightful events.

The former Magpies skipper also co-coaches his son’s football team, and insists he has no regrets over moving away from the club just as they were closing in on a first AFL premiership since 2010.

“I've been able to take the kids to the footy and sit in the crowd with them, and had two of them there last year when the Pies won the Grand Final, which was a great moment,” Maxwell said.

“I still host some corporate functions for the club, and help with some of the corporate groups as well, so I’m still connected which is obviously important to me.”

Nick Maxwell and Eclat are part of the AFLConnect network. Find out more about Eclat at www.eclat.com.

SIX POINTERS

Biggest achievement: Being part of a premiership and being able to deliver that to all the fans, particularly at Collingwood where they had only won one in more than 50 years up until that point.

Biggest regret: I hate saying this, but I don't really have regrets. There are things that you would do differently, there are sliding door moments, but for me they're just lessons and part of your journey.

Business breakthrough: Getting an investment in Eclat. It was an idea we'd had for many years, we had a lot of doors slammed in our face, so finding someone that believed enough in us to invest was the biggest break.

Business superpower: The ability to talk to anyone. It probably comes from talking to AFL and club sponsors, the CEO of Emirates and global companies like that, then later the same day you’re talking to junior supporters at training.

Admired leader: There are so many that I'm learning from all the time. There are staff that I work with at Eclat, people I've worked with in sport like Mick Malthouse, Craig Bellamy, Frank Ponissi and even my parents. But I'm not tied to any one individual.

Personal philosophy: Treat people with respect and the way you want to be treated. If everyone lived by that, I think the world would be a better place.