We recently caught up with Jacob Brown, Class of 2005, after meeting him at a Dilworth Old Boys’ Networking Event. A proud Old Boy, Jacob spoke warmly of his time at Dilworth and shared the fascinating path his career and life have taken since leaving school. Intrigued by his journey, we sat down for a chat to learn more and share his story with the Dilworth community.
For Jacob, Dilworth was never simply a place you went to school. It was where opportunity showed up, where education opened doors, and where family was found in ways he never expected.
Jacob grew up in Papamoa with his mum in a loving and supportive home. Leaving that security at just eight years old to start Year Five at the Dilworth Junior Campus was a big step. “It was hard leaving home,” he says. “But I would never take my Dilworth time back. The relationships I made there are for life.”
As an only child, Jacob arrived at Dilworth without brothers or sisters, but he did not stay that way for long. The boys around him quickly became family. Years on, those friendships are just as strong, long after school assemblies and exam timetables have faded into memory.
With his mum working as a social worker, empathy was something Jacob absorbed early. He learned how to listen, how to notice people, and how to care about what was happening around him. Looking back now, he is proud to see the way Dilworth supports its students and Old Boys. “That care does not end when you leave school,” he says. “It stays with you.”
School life was busy and full. Jacob threw himself into as many opportunities as he could, particularly in sports. He played everything on offer, finding sport to be a powerful outlet as well as a way to connect. It taught him resilience, discipline, and teamwork. Alongside this, he also found space for creativity, developing a strong love for art and benefitting from a school environment that encouraged boys to explore a wide range of interests.
Living in Remuera during his Dilworth years exposed Jacob to a level of wealth and privilege through his surroundings and his friends outside of school. Rather than feeling out of place, he learned how to move comfortably between different worlds. “I learned how to adapt,” he says. “How to observe people and how to take opportunities when they come along.”
That willingness to question things became more noticeable as he grew older. After leaving in 5th Form (Year 11) to spend a year on exchange in Brazil, Jacob returned with a fresh perspective and plenty of curiosity. He was not afraid to ask why things were done a certain way. That questioning spirit sometimes landed him in trouble, but it also reflected independent thinking and a strong sense of self-direction. “Dilworth taught me to speak up for what I thought was right,” he says. “And to trust my own path.”
Those experiences shaped a huge part of who Jacob is today. The resilience, empathy, and confidence he developed at school still guide how he approaches life and work. Wanting to do things differently and occasionally proving people wrong became a motivating force rather than an obstacle.
Jacob left Dilworth in Year 12 and spent a year at ACG Parnell College before enrolling in a foundation course in Art and Design at AUT University. This was a turning point. He discovered graphic design and went on to complete an undergraduate degree, followed by a master’s qualification. Teaching during his postgraduate study and being trusted to share his knowledge helped cement his confidence and sense of direction.
Over time, his interest shifted from print design toward moving image and visual storytelling. His work at the postgraduate level earned him a Postgraduate Award for Excellence in Moving Image and confirmed that he was on the right track creatively.
At just 21, in 2011, Jacob co-founded Brewery Studio, working from his mum’s living room. The timing was right. Social media was new, technology was becoming more accessible, and creative tools were changing rapidly. Like many growing businesses, the company expanded, contracted, and evolved. Over time, it settled into a focused partnership with two founders/directors, allowing Jacob to balance creativity with lifestyle.
That journey led him to produce video content for Fisher & Paykel, combining technical skill with creativity and storytelling. Today, Jacob continues to earn a living from something he built himself, guided by curiosity and a habit of saying yes to opportunity.
Looking ahead, Jacob remains driven and open to where life might take him next. He enjoys having multiple ideas in motion and values the freedom that comes from creative independence. “Mindset creates luck,” he says. “If you stay open and positive, things tend to fall into place.”
When asked what advice he would give to current students, Jacob keeps it simple. “You do not have to follow a straight line to get where you want to go. Surround yourself with the right people. Stay positive and open. Things will work out.”
As an Old Boy, Jacob’s connection to Dilworth remains strong. It is built on gratitude, shared experience, and bonds that last well beyond school years. From a young boy leaving home at eight to a creative professional forging his own path (that hasn’t been a straight line!), his story is a reminder of what can happen when opportunity meets courage.
For Jacob, his Dilworth brothers will always be family.