Womanhood Journal 2022 - Stories of real women from the Kāpiti and Horowhenua communities, NZ

Stories of real women from the Kāpiti & Horowhenua communities

INTERNATIONAL WOMeN’S DAY 2022 #BREAKTHEBIAS

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IWD 2022 #BREAKTHEBIAS Womanhoodjournal.nz

All proceeds from this journal are donated to Kāpiti Women’s Centre and Horowhenua Women’s Refuge to support their important work

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Contents Welcome message

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Susan Tiumalu & Simone Browne

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Helene Judge

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Kiera Read

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Trish Amor-Davy

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Annie Romanos

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Michelle Rudd

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Rose Murray

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Ruth Lacombe-Post

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Meelee Joe

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Bee Stevenson & Mihi Blake

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Trina Laracy

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Lucy Ambrose

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Rose Lawson

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Manna Drummond

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Valerie Reitnauer

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Nadia Watson

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Alisha Lewis

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Monique Davidson

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Claire Mance

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Alicia Kindell

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Robyn De La Haye

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Charlotte Tollervey & Natalie Rutene

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Cassie Meredith

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Zebunisso Alimova

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Raechel Osborne

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Louise Waterworth

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Cover images: Top, Michelle Rudd, boxing (page 14). Bottom, Trina Laracy and her mother Mary McMillan, circa 1970s (page 22).

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What is unconcious bias?

How do I challenge assumptions and traditions?

Instinctively categorising people and things without being aware of it

How do I deal with biases?

Recognise that they exist and be mindful

Think critically and ask 'why?'

Bias impacts us daily, our relationships, our work and our reactions.

Sarah-Jayne Shine Lemonface CREATIVE

lemonfacecreative.com @lemonfacecreative

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Jess deacon Deacon Rd

deaconrd.co @deaconrd.co

Anna colville-smith Acs marketing

acsmarketing.co.nz @acsmarketingnz

“Strive to see with your eyes rather than your assumptions” But make sure you’re aware of your assumptions, because this is where bias lingers.

Welcome to the Womanhood Journal - a collection of stories from women across Kāpiti and Horowhenua, in celebration of International Women’s Day. We are honoured to share these powerful stories of real women’s journeys through business and life.

This is the second issue of the Womanhood Journal, a publication which has provided a platform for women’s stories to be acknowledged and celebrated.

To date we have heard from more than 50 women in our community whose stories offer depth, colour, and pertinence to the pages within.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is ‘Break the Bias’ and these are the key thoughtstarters: imagine a gender equal world a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive a world where difference is valued and celebrated together we can forge women’s equality collectively we can all #BreakTheBias

Behind the scenes this journal has been lovingly put together by three passionate storytellers: Anna Colville-Smith (chief wrangler and expert connector), Sarah-Jayne Shine (masterful designer and creative visionary) and Jess Deacon (editor, writer and wordfinesser). Motivated by a desire to document some of the compelling stories within her community, it was Anna’s idea to bring this inspired project to fruition.

From within our communities alone, the Womanhood Journal presents a diverse range of women in business who come from different backgrounds, different industries, and have different experiences.

Each woman has written their own story in their own words, and all have been brave enough to share their unique journeys. Thank you for being part of this second chapter.

Not only has it become a powerful way to inspire, educate and uplift others, but it has also provided an opportunity to give back to two local women’s charities - Kāpiti Women’s Centre and Horowhenua Women’s Refuge - with the proceeds of this journal heading their way to support the important work they do in helping women to rise.

This is a collection of true stories about life, challenge, doubt and resilience, and one thing is clear: bias is rife in our world. But we can change that. Individually we have the power to check our assumptions, clear our lenses, and have the selfawareness to look again before judging, commenting, or acting. Collectively we have the power to change perspectives, and experience a deeper sense of shared humanity.

There are so many amazing women in our community whose stories deserve to be shared, and we have only scratched the surface. We look forward to the next collection of wonderful stories.

Please do get in touch if you’d like us to save you a space for the 2023 edition by emailing anna@acsmarketing.co.nz.

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“You have to find the courage to write your own story and live an authentic life.”

Susan tiumalu & Simone Browne Monsoon Creative The story of Monsoon Creative started in London, where Simone and I met and became close friends. This friendship evolved into a business partnership in 2015; a creative hub now based in Wellington.

Simone had been out on her own for a couple of years after being made redundant and I had been working in an agency in town. For me the environment was extremely toxic, highly stressful, and I was being bullied. My confidence was at an alltime low and I was so scared of taking that step to becoming self-employed. This turned out to be the best decision ever.

We started off with one big client, and a few smaller ones but we just had to trust in our instincts that what we were doing was going to be great. Each year we grew and grew, but through learning we’ve had to keep changing how we do things. A positive attitude is one of the most valuable things you can have in life. It has the ability to turn even the worst day into a wonderful one.

You have to find the courage to write your own story and live an authentic life. The courage to be yourself, the courage to make change when it’s needed and the courage to stand up for what you believe in. We’d both come from very male dominated creative and advertising industries, so it was great that we were making our own path. I have two young girls that I am raising in Kāpiti, so I wanted to show them they can do it too.

Coming from that experience has really taught us the importance of supporting each other and nurturing the

creative aspects of our younger staff. We’ve always found that you get the best out of your staff when you make them believe they’re great. We have a close bond within our team, which really enhances the work we do together. A better outcome for us, and for the client.

Monsoon Creative is all about delivering leading creative work for our clients. The number of times we’ve had people approach us with stories of how their previous web and graphic designers have fallen off the face of the earth, never to be heard of again and then they’re stuck with an out-ofdate website or material they can no longer access. We put heart and soul into our work, so we can capture the heart and soul of our clients’ businesses. We really pride ourselves on communication through the whole process and guide our clients from start to finish. Delivering a piece of work that the client is gushing about – that makes us happy. Then we’ve achieved what we set out to do.

Simone and I are like yin and yang. We’re completely different in so many aspects but that’s why it works so well. We both have different strengths in different areas which is always beneficial for the client. We can customise the work depending on their need and tailor and scale projects as required.

2020-21 has taught us the hard way so we’re always trying to think outside the box on how we can do things differently.

We’re starting the year off with a women’s only leadership course to learn the tools to drive our business in the right direction, who knows what 2022 might throw at us. We are here to give it our best and make the most out of any situation.

monsooncreative.co.nz Words by Susan Tiumalu.

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responsibility is being Mum to my son Sidney who is 15.

Thankfully he has empathy, is inclusive and willing to form his own mind.

I believe women are natural storytellers. They can open their minds and actions to creative opportunities given an inclusive environment. A positive mindset, a kind word, or a smile is often all we need to flourish to make choices, follow through and to handle and learn from the challenges that present along the way. One Covid positive has been the opportunity to slow down and refocus my hopes and dreams in a less serious way. Wage subsidies and resurgence payments have provided the ability to stay present and evolve.

Helene Judge Community Builder and Co-owner, Kāpiti Food Fair I grew up in Nelson as the eldest of five siblings – three Gen-X and two millennials.

We have always been a whānau of independent minds who have cared for and guided each other.

This has become important as we created our own families and started to look out more for our own aging parents. Life is an interesting journey and the matriarchal spirit in me realises the need to capture memories often and to pass on day-to-day knowledge as you go about life.

Right from my early school days I remember that feeling of bias, being made to feel average and that girls were destined for certain stereotypical careers and principal homemaker roles. Don’t get me wrong, I love my home, it’s my haven, yet being independent and credible in a community has been key for me.

I helped to establish the Kāpiti Women in Business group in 2010 and was part of the planning group to run International Women’s Day (IWD) lunches. IWD provides that one day to celebrate and inspire all women to promote and respect their own values that can endure a lifetime. In 2022 the theme of #breakthebias is really a lifelong journey to accept and value differences. I find it interesting that some people younger than me still show bias which makes you realise the importance of embracing opportunities, to be deliberate and diverse in your mindset and open to change at all stages in life. My biggest

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In 2012 I formed Kāpiti Business Projects due to redundancy and not wanting to step back into the corporate world in Wellington. Working as an independent professional means access to my team of professional contractors who can advise and create tools and solutions to get your business humming.

I am not a business coach or mentor. Instead, the focus is to listen and provide straightforward ways to improve your operations and grow your business with a practical and kind approach – you can count on us.

The most common project that floats my boat is helping established businesses to construct a business plan so they can refocus and be accountable. My style is to lead purposefully, and I love bringing a team together to help others to make things happen in a smart way. I am often asked for my opinion, referrals and to be part of local initiatives that are inspired around growth and development of Kāpiti from a business and community perspective. This is rewarding, yet over time I have needed to say no and connect folk to others so as not to burn out.

At the time of creating my business I faced personal and financial challenges with the IVF birth of my son in 2006. My partner was narcissistic and has haunted our lifestyle until recently when he started a custodial sentence for his harmful action against a woman not known to us. Facing life and business as an older solo Mum is challenging. Yet with the right mindset, whānau and friends, life can be abundant.

Being co-owner of the Kāpiti Food Fair, established in 2008 from humble beginnings, to being the major community event it is known for in the Wellington Region today is hugely satisfying yet requires much investment in time, money and hard mahi. The Fair is privately owned in partnership between me and the talented and lovely Jeanine van Kradenburg.

Our mission is to bring visitors to the Kāpiti Coast for a fun, indulgent and tasty day out with GOOD friends, GOOD times and GOOD food! Our vision is to make a lasting impression in the mind and bodies of all foodies. We can’t wait to be back in 2022.

I’m grateful to all of the women in my life and a special call out to my Mum, my Aunts, my Nanna, my neighbours, collaborative business people and my oldest friends. Happy IWD and to embracing opportunities and differences.

kapitibusinessprojects.co.nz kapitifoodfair.co.nz

Keira Read Wildflower Cafe & Caravan I’m Keira from Wildflower and I love everything that is sweet and beautiful.

The name Wildflower came from my love of Alice In Wonderland. “Do you believe she’s a wildflower?” A wildflower, growing wild and free. Alice set out to be who she wanted to be and accomplished impossible things.

I have always loved food - the smells, the textures, the colours, the taste. The enjoyment of using all of the ingredients, measuring them and weighing everything out, mixing, whipping, beating, seeing it all coming together, watching it develop and change as it cooks, then patiently waiting for it to cool and - the best part - getting to eat it.

I remember as a kid I loved to watch cooking shows and having my trusty Alison Holst cookbook with me. I would set up my little kitchen studio, “Cooking With Keira”, copying the recipes, measuring everything out in little dishes and making a right old mess when the “show” had finished.

and classic fruit pies, sprinkled with edible flower loveliness.

I would have a ridiculous number of dishes all piled up that I really thought my brother should wash - after all, he did get to eat my creations! Strangely he didn’t agree and I still hate the clean up. But I was in my own bubble and I loved it.

Things have grown and changed so much in the three years since Wildflower came to life and will continue to develop.

We’re trying to grow and focus on certain areas now to help with the work life balance. It has been a lot of hours, a lot of trial and error, and I’m so proud of what has been achieved so far.

I think my love of baking comes from memories. As a child it was my happy place, where I felt most comfortable creating, watching and learning from my mum. I’m hoping my kids will have these memories with me too.

Wildflower was born after I had been daydreaming about doing something I love: my passion. For my kids to see that we can reach our goals, that we can do anything we put our minds to.

I guess to set an example or be a role model for the kids, and so we could make sure they wouldn’t miss out on anything or be without.

My partner Simon fully supported me following my dream, so we searched on TradeMe for a cute retro caravan and found one close to home. We had a day out with the kids and brought home our Wildflower caravan cafe. Simon spent some time doing her up and making her perfect. He made my dream come to life.

We started out with the caravan in a permanent spot, doing events, lots of coffee and toasties and trying out doughnuts.

They took off straight away, guess everyone loves a doughnut!

Not long after came the market stalls with our bakery goods.

It’s a little family business. Simon runs the market stalls and Mum is at the shop in the kitchen helping me. As the kids get older the more involved they can get as well.

I am so thankful for my closest friends, and the exceptional community of local women, especially in these crazy times.

I have made friends for life, these women are running their amazing businesses, juggling home life with kids and everything else day to day life throws at us, while cheering each other on, always having the time for each other, brainstorming, helping, being. These women have so much strength mixed with kindness and determination. They are full of ideas and so supportive of each other. Total super women.

Kind of like our mothers. My mum raised me to believe in myself, to love, and is my biggest supporter. She is constantly encouraging and believing in me and we’re still beside each other in the kitchen now. I don’t think I could have done any of it without her being my main cheerleader.

As women, mothers and business owners it’s great that we can be united to support and encourage each other.

See ya for some Wildflower treats soon.

@wildflowercaravancafe

The caravan got a little bit small for the amount that was being made, so the next step was the shop in Levin as a base for us and doing lots of markets. This is where we focus on a sweet selection of decadent brownies, an assortment of doughnuts

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trish amor-davy Lawyer, Coach, Mentor, Trainer Best Practice Law

It’s important to shine a light on all the good stuff courageous women are doing globally because it encourages and empowers other women to step into their own light and embrace who they are. Let’s embrace our differences, our similarities and our achievements.

Regardless of where we are in the world, when we share our stories we quickly realise there are similarities within each of us. We all have similar dreams of independence, self-empowerment and confidence in ourselves. By sharing stories of what we have overcome or achieved, others often realise that there are pathways to also achieve their own dreams if they dare to chase them. I think it is important to share our stories of success not to impress others, but to impress upon others how it can be done, and showing them what is possible. Although ‘success’ in some way, shape or form is what we strive for, sometimes it’s even more empowering to share our unsuccessful or sad stories with others, because we all can find similarities in those too. Sometimes it’s the honest, sad stories shared that can change, and even save lives.

I became a lawyer because my late father needed legal help and no-one in our family was a lawyer. As much as I wanted to help, I couldn’t understand “legalese”. I didn’t sit the seventh form exams at high school and didn’t have any desire for University at all. Fast forward about 7 years, a fiancé and two preschool daughters later and a chance conversation with my brother-in-law Daran Ponter (almost a dare), lead me

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“Regardless of where we are in the world, when we share our stories we quickly realise there is a united similarity in each of us. We all have similar dreams of independence, self-empowerment and confidence in ourselves.”

to apply for law school. I didn’t have the usual prerequisites to get into law school. I didn’t have an ‘A Bursary’ (old school equivalent of Excellence Level 3 NCEA) but I had the ‘gift of the gab’. I applied as an adult student and sent away everything they asked for, but kind of expected this crazy dream would end there. Incredibly, I was invited to an interview weekend where I would go ‘plead my case’ (oh the irony… I guess I was proving right there if I’d make a good lawyer or not.)

After a long weekend of interviewing, I was excited to be told I’d got a spot in first year law.

I may have got there via a different route but I had to get the grades and prove myself year-after-year to keep going through. I was so determined.

I had told them at the interview stage, “if you let me in the door, I won’t leave without the piece of paper at the end.”

True to my word, (after having another child along the way) I got my law degree. It took ‘ages’ doing it part time juggling study, work, raising a family and running a house but I was well supported by my awesome husband Jason Davy who chipped in wherever needed and we just made it work so I could do it. Honestly, if I didn’t have his support I wouldn’t have been able to do it all.

As I trained as a lawyer not a ‘business person’, the ‘lawyering’ came easy but the running of the business was another story. I had a lot of ‘learning’ on the journey and would seek help from as many of my peers as I could, then in recent years I’ve grabbed a business coach named Heather Hutchings who has been an absolute blessing.

As soon as I was qualified, I began working at a local firm in Paraparaumu Beach (and bless his heart, the Principal Winston Hindmarsh, suggested I work only during school hours, so I could still be Mum and wife first.) From there, I worked between a couple of other Waikanae firms for about six years and then in 2013 I was grateful for the opportunity to start Best Practice Law, in partnership with another local lawyer. This was the first all-women law firm in Kāpiti. So that’s what I did.

It was pretty cool to be all females in what was once a male-only industry.

A year or so later I bought my business partner out and now nine years on I continue to run a highly successful ‘people focused’ law firm with two offices in Kāpiti and Horowhenua.

For about the first five years, my firm was staffed by all women, however we now have a couple of blokes on the team and I must admit, it is a lovely balance. I had always wanted to run a very inclusive firm where everyone was welcome, felt comfortable and where people like my dear old Dad wouldn’t feel intimidated and could understand what the lawyers were saying. We regularly get feedback from our clients confirming we have achieved that, which makes me smile.

I do what I do because I love helping people. This year I’m going to help even more people by diversifying what I do. There will be some big and exciting changes coming to my role so watch this space!

I’ve been blessed to have been surrounded by so many phenomenal women my whole life. I have six sisters Davina, Joy, Vickie, Mary, Margaret and Waima who have always supported

and inspired me. I’m also lucky to have eight gorgeous nieces. My sisters and nieces are my role models, each unique in their own way. They each have different traits that impress and inspire me on a constant basis. They are all supportive of me chasing my dreams and smashing my goals.

My close girlfriends inspire and support me. We talk about the important stuff and although we may not see each other every day, we always pick up where we left off like it was yesterday and ‘the tank is always full’ when we go our separate ways.

I’m also inspired by the fabulous women I work with on a daily basis.

Whether they work with me at Best Practice or are colleagues within the profession, I never need to look far for inspiration and guidance. Within my own firm I am privileged to be surrounded by an amazing team who make it an absolute joy to come to work every day.

And last but not least, the most inspirational women I know are my two beautiful daughters Chloe and Madie. Both in their 20’s, they are far more ‘on to it’ than I ever was at their ages. Both worked really hard to put themselves through University, got scholarships along the way and also are the most loyal, brutally honest and kindest young women I know. They are always supportive of what I’m doing and are not afraid to speak honestly to put me in my place if needed (..so I can ‘grow’ as a person, of course!)

They inspire me with their confidence and awesome attitudes towards life.

They are just awesome, and no, I’m not biased.

bestlaw.co.nz

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Annie Romanos Executive and Business Coach, ADHD Champion and Changemaker I think the biggest contribution of every generation is to break the biases of the previous one.

In the past two decades we’ve seen this with #metoo, #blacklivesmatter, #lgbtqi, increasingly #disabilityrights and now #neurodiversity.

As a Gen X person of privilege pākehā, educated and straight - I’ve been aware that I haven’t been affected by too many biases, with the most pronounced being born a woman at a time in which the set up of many of our social and professional systems are still based on male values and male needs (despite over a century since achieving female voting rights and 40 years efforting for a more gender equal way of life. Good things take time, aye.)

So when I got a diagnosis for ADHD last year, I got a taste what it was like to feel like the “other”. To be in a minority.

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, however it’s been noted many times that us ADHDers don’t suffer from a lack of attention, rather, too much of it (Māori got it right with defining ADHD as Aroreretini: attention goes to many things).

Despite the pure luck of the circumstances I was born into, nurtured in a loving, loud, Catholic, working class family of six, I always felt different growing up, didn’t know why, and hid my shame around this.

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“When we’re willing to break the bias, including breaking the biases we have about ourselves, we can truly harness our potential and the potential in others.”

I’d pretend that I understood things when I didn’t because I’d zoned out from boredom or was distracted by anything other than what was required.

I struggled with big emotions, “overreacting” as my mother would mutter under her breath multiple times a week. I was highly sensitive to rejection (perceived or real) and assumed that most people didn’t like me. My school report was an annual copy and paste of “not reaching potential” “disruptive in class”. I moved in the world with a cloud of not being good or intelligent enough hanging over me all the time.

Amazingly I got through my twenties with some success in advertising and then did a big pivot into community development. I noticed that when I was interested in something, I was unstoppable, with a level of energy, attention and passion marvelled at by others. But then I would find myself in a pit of inertia, a rut of inaction, delaying tasks for weeks, months and then years. What was wrong with me?

I’m dumb, useless and lazy, that’s what.

Depression and anxiety ramped up as I soldiered through raising children.

I attributed my mental health struggles to moving from Wellington to Kāpiti and parenting a baby and toddler full-time.

In an effort to understand myself I dived into personal development.

I took courses and programmes, read books, and worked with a therapist.

I volunteered for an education charity whose mission was to uncover human potential. I didn’t get a whiff of ADHD then but I discovered the power of coaching. I also discovered that this was what I was born to do. Coaching people was me.

After our third child was born, I set up a career coaching practice. There were many things that worked well.

I could call the shots, be creative and innovative, take action on new ideas and decisions quickly, use my powers of empathy, perception and activation all day with people, and ultimately have the flexibility and freedom to prioritise my kids.

Unconsciously, I protected myself from others noticing my different brain wiring for many years. I didn’t realise at the time, but the name for this is masking. One of the most successful ways I masked was to work for myself.

No one would witness my chronic procrastination, my reactivity and anxiety, my struggle with business development, and my inability to focus on things that didn’t interest me.

When researching potential ADHD for my youngest son early last year, there were many penny-drops reading the symptoms, and in June 2021, I was diagnosed with adult ADHD (the “inattentive” type, rather than the archetypal and more visible “hyperactive”).

As I’ve gone about life pretending to be more like neurotypical people to be accepted and fit in - this being the ‘other’ has surprising upsides that make a lot of sense. People with ADHD - and “others” like those on the autism spectrum, those who have a different skin colour or sexual orientation and those who are differently-abled - we’re known to be especially empathic, creative and non-judgemental, and we possess a keen sense of social justice.

We’ve had challenges that make us more attuned to others’ pain and struggles. Don’t get me wrong, privilege is also a spectrum, biases are on a

spectrum, and I’m grateful for what I do have every single day.

Supporting the uniqueness of each of my clients, identifying the multitude of things they do exceptionally well, and creatively harnessing these strengths to reach their goals, is what I love doing most and what I’m best at. And I know from my own and my clients’ experiences, that ADHD is a competitive advantage. Our brains are wired for interest so when we’re captivated by something we can reach a level of expertise in a very short time (thanks to something called hyper-focus), we don’t shy away from taking risks, we’re innovators and are exceptionally creative. People with ADHD are intuitive, enthusiastic, honest, and see opportunities that others don’t. Over the past seven years supporting women in business and professionals to reach their goals, I’ve noticed a trend: people with ADHD thrive in the business world. ADHD is a competitive advantage. As are other differences.

When we’re willing to break the bias, including breaking the biases we have about ourselves, we can truly harness our potential and the potential in others. From a neurodiversity perspective, rather than being problematic, individuals with ADHD and others on the neurodivergent spectrum, are the spark plugs of society, the shakers and movers, the people who bring about revolution and change.

And as I deepen my acceptance of my own differences, I notice that others are inspired to do the same. Breaking the bias is big, important business for all of us.

annieromanos.com

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Michelle Rudd Michelle Davies Photography, Boxing with Michelle and Kāpiti Dog Photographer photographing the bridal party on a farm, to dropping my camera in the middle of the aisle with a great thud just as the first kiss happened (thank God for second shooters).

Photography began as a happy accident, but it just so happened to lead me to my second passion - boxing.

In 2014 I was asked last minute to photograph a boxing event, and little did I know this was the beginning of something that would become a huge part of my life.

When I think of the fact that it’s been over a decade since deciding to sign up for Photo School for ‘something different to do’, I am both perplexed and proud. Something that I was told could never be a ‘real job’ has been helping to pay bills and support my family for just over 11 years. I still pinch myself every day thinking how lucky I am to call photography my job.

Throughout my teen years I suffered from a number of debilitating mental illnesses. I hated school because of my crippling anxiety, dropped out early and fell pregnant at 17. I had low self esteem and the thought of working a steady job seemed out of reach.

Photography became an outlet for me.

When I was behind my camera I felt like a different person, my troubles melted away along with the anxiety, and all I could focus on was capturing what was in front of me. I fell in love with portraiture and started to notice how so many felt vulnerable in front of the camera. I made it my mission to make my clients feel comfortable, relaxed, and to really enjoy the experience of being photographed.

As my ability to do this increased so did my self esteem. By now I was in my 20’s and, for the first time in my life, feeling worthy.

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Things didn’t always go smoothly.

I remember shooting my first wedding shortly after giving birth to my son when one of the guests asked “how far along are you”. Being hormonal it was a challenge to brush off this question and stay focussed without letting it derail me. Along with that I was also stopping every hour to pump milk!

I absolutely despise having to cancel photoshoots. On one shoot I had an ear infection and vertigo so my partner had to drive me to the session while I had a spew bucket on my lap. But I managed to get the job done without them being any the wiser.

After 10 years of shooting weddings I feel like I could write a book on all the crazy little moments that happened behind the scenes. From me backing up into an electric fence while

I continued photographing boxing events for another four years before I decided it was my turn. I took up the challenge of training for my first fight.

With many doubters due to my soft/ girly nature and being known as ‘just the photographer’ I stepped into the ring and came out victorious with my first win.

The addiction took hold and I continued to train and compete in more events where I experienced both what it felt like to lose and to have my arm risen once again as the winner. But more than that I started to realise how powerful other women were in the sport. Not just physically but mentally. Boxing is a largely male dominated sport. Being in boxing gyms where most of the time the men far outweighed the number of women, the women stuck together. The men often took priority for ring time and sparing while the girls went last. They supported each other, formed strong bonds and in a lonely sport they became like family.

Two years on I was asked if I’d like to undergo training to coach boxing. With no other female boxing coaches with a licence in Kāpiti/Horowhenua to coach fighters, I jumped at the opportunity.

I wanted to show the other girly girls that this sport isn’t just for men, it’s for anyone brave enough to step through

a boxing gym’s doors and put on a pair of gloves. I showed women that the soft approach to coaching them worked just as well as the ‘old-school hard’ men’s approach. I could train them to be successful fighters and still have empathy for them. Women learn and train differently from men. They want to know the reasons why we do things a certain way, they want to know the mechanics and the science behind the sport.

September last year I decided to start “Boxing with Michelle” and in less than five months I have achieved my goal of having 20 female clients who I coach through 1:1 and small group sessions.

I also teach boxfit classes twice a week at The Stable Boxing & Fitness which is open to both men and women. When I look back at that teenage girl I used to be and think about whether one day she would have the confidence to teach group fitness classes, I would tell you, “not in this lifetime!”

My days now consist of a mix of boxing training sessions with some of the most amazing women I have ever met, and photographing families, babies, weddings and dogs… lots of dogs!

I feel beyond blessed with how my journey has panned out and now believe anything is possible. I want my daughter to see that when people tell you something can’t be done it means diddly squat. I want her to be around the strong, empowering individuals that I train. They come from all walks of life, in all shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day they are all fighting for something and none of them are going it alone.

michelledavies.co.nz @boxingwithmichelle

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Rose murray Wildrose Florist As a woman in business it’s so awesome to me seeing other women succeed in their own field. It’s really inspiring to me especially as a lot of us are not just running a business but we’re doing it with kids, families and all the extra stuff that comes with that.

Through my business I’ve built some really awesome relationships with other females in similar positions building their own little empires and doing the stuff which makes them happy - I love that we’re out there doing our dreams and making a living from that.

We all have really unique backgrounds that brought us to where we are today and it’s awesome hearing the stories about where we’ve all come from to get to where we are today.

I have been doing this flower thing for 20 years now. I had always loved

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“I love that we’re out there doing our dreams and making a living from that.” horticulture in college and when my time came to decide what I “wanted” to do, I had no idea, but was offered a job at Geerlings Cut Flowers, and it was great - I loved it! From there I moved through many roles in the industry and then fell into floristry with the guidance, support and belief from my friend Whitney. Next came the shop in Levin, though that was also my partner’s idea, because I was very hesitant and constantly coming up with excuses that people wouldn’t like my work. “What if it fails?!” All the normal feelings and self doubt.

But here we are three and a half years later, two lockdowns, hundreds and hundreds of happy customers. OK… maybe we are doing something right?!

The sharing of these stories is special because we get to show our younger generations that they can do whatever they want - you just have to work hard and you can do anything. I love that I get to be a role model for my boys, and that they get to grow up here in the shop with me.

My mum has always been a huge support in what I do - you’ll often see her in the shop doing deliveries or watching the boys. I know I can always rely on her when I need a helping hand. And I’m so lucky to have a partner who is supportive of what I do and who helps where he can, with the kids or building the crazy things I dream up like my second hand pallet wall. He is also with the boys when I set up weddings on the weekends and really just an open ear - when I have a problem, he has a solution. And Lily, my girl, my right hand lady! She’s great, runs the shop when I have to duck out, goes above and beyond for everything that we do here, and has so much input into the beautiful things we create.

I just hope that one person is inspired by my story or any of the stories in this journal. That will make me a happy camper! Cause dreams are free, and a special kind of freedom is gained from living your dream.

wildroseflorist.co.nz

Photo: Vision Media

Ruth lacombe-post Harbour City Funeral Home

The strong women in my life never pushed. They allowed me to make and own my mistakes. To realise my way, in my own way.

When I look back on my life, I see that I was always determined to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in, no matter what the situation.

This attitude set me up particularly well for the week after I left high school, when my father died suddenly at home. In an instant, my world was turned upside down.

It was the Funeral Director who calmly arrived at 4.30am that morning, when everything was happening, who tenderly comforted my broken heart, who explained and helped me to navigate this uncharted territory.

I’d never seen him before, yet here he was ready to wrap my brother and me in cotton wool. He felt the enormity of our loss and I’ll never forget how kind he was.

Without a word of a lie, on the day my dad died, I vowed to pay it back.

Fast forward 28 years. I’m in my eighth year as a fully qualified and registered Funeral Director at Harbour City Funeral Home in Paraparaumu, doing my life’s work, every day. It’s hard both

physically and mentally, and there has to be a huge level of selflessness to do this job. The hours can be long and the situations are ever-challenging. But nothing is too much if you can help a grieving family, who mourn deeply whilst baring their soul to the Funeral Director. They trust her to help them.

I get it!

I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to transform my own personal tragedy into an opportunity to help others and in turn I receive immense personal growth.

As a woman in a predominantly male dominated industry, I feel complete equality without question. I’m sure it would have been a different story 20 years ago and I am thankful to those strong determined women who have carved a space. Here I am in 2022. I bring my natural warmth, compassion, sound knowledge and experience. Everyone is different, we all grieve differently. I like to think that I am simply the means to help at the beginning of a journey and it is indeed an honour.

“As a woman in a predominantly male dominated industry, I feel complete equality without question.

I’m sure it would have been a different story 20 years ago and I am thankful to those strong determined women who have carved a space.”

My biggest lessons I hear you asking?

To be honest, thankful and forgiving, to say ‘I love you’ and live with no regrets.

And laugh! Don’t forget to laugh!

We never know when our time will come.

harbourcityfunerals.co.nz

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meelee joe The Frock Shop

Growing up as a first-generation New Zealand born Chinese girl in Palmerston North in the 70-80s was not dissimilar to a lot of migrant families. We were expected to work and help in the business every week and family holidays were not even a consideration. It taught me a lot about hard work, being professional and resilience. I acknowledge the business woman my mum was – solely running a business herself with limited English and trying to create a better life for our family.

After leaving school and graduating from university I did not really know what I wanted to do, so I trained as a chef and travelled on my OE working for several different restaurants in London. This is where I loved being a part of a team and working with an international crew really drew on my creativity. I developed skills like how to work under pressure and work alongside men in a male dominated industry. It was an amazing time of self-discovery and learning about the world outside of New Zealand.

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Upon returning to New Zealand, I retrained as a primary teacher; a career that fueled my passion for learning and wanting to help others.

This was my life for 15 years while bringing up our three children and it taught me so much about life, personal growth, and human development.

Fast forward to 2018, I was desperate to have a change from teaching and while as a teacher you learn so many skills, it was proving to be difficult to find another job. Ever since we moved to Kāpiti, Ed and I have often wanted our own business and we have always loved

the feel of Raumati Village. The Frock Shop had been an iconic women’s clothing store in Raumati Village for over 20 years so when the opportunity arose for us to buy it, I remember asking myself “why not?”. I could apply those multitude of skills as a teacher, and in hospitality, and apply them to running my own business.

Although we had to learn ‘the business’ - and that has been an absolute journey, especially not knowing a lot about the rag trade - we have persevered and made the business what it is today. I love

“I have sought inspiration from many strong women.

To stand up and deal with adversity and carry on and make something for themselves.

bringing in collections from New Zealand designers who create classic, well-made beautiful pieces. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than helping someone find that piece of clothing that makes them stand tall and like what they see. When you look good you feel good about yourself and that is when a woman’s natural beauty shines through. When women come in and say, “I do not like this or this about myself”, I try to turn it around to a positive and focus on what they do love about themselves. We should show those bits off.

We have grown The Frock Shop to also include more New Zealand designed, New Zealand made collections and love telling the designer’s story. To me it is equally important that we buy local, sustainable, ethical products and this is something I have always felt strongly about. This is even more

relevant since we are living in an age of much uncertainty with a pandemic and changing global environment.

There are so many women I have found inspiring and feel fortunate to have met. I draw on inspiration from women who can be themselves, who have strong values of family, community and have the courage to stand up to adversity. We wear so many different hats, and the expectations we place on ourselves is mind boggling. We need to share these experiences and show the real person within. International Women’s Day is important as it shines the spotlight on women. It focuses on the stories – both the struggles and the successes. It celebrates the fact we are all the same - people with families, making sacrifices and trying to do our best in these times.

thefrockshop.co.nz

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Bee Stevenson & Mihi blake Māia Bee Stevenson and Mihi Blake (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto). Co-founders of Māia, Aotearoa New Zealand’s home of kaupapa driven communications.

Based in Paraparaumu Beach and Tāmaki Makaurau, Bee and Mihi combine strengths in publicity, brand and media strategy and campaign management in the cause, iwi, music and startup sectors.

They have been the external communications voice behind some of Aotearoa’s heartiest impact brands including Manaaki, Nau Mai Rā, Festival for the Future, Digital Boost and MindTheGap. Here they share with us what inspires them as women in business.

Why is International Women’s Day Important to you?

Bee: IWD is important to me as a

mother of girls, as a female in business and an observer of inequities in our world. I want to do my bit to lay ground so my girls can have a fairer shot than I had and the generations before me had.

Mihi: Right now we are knee deep

in the MindTheGap NZ campaign, advocating for mandated pay gap reporting in Aotearoa. The fact that the Equal Pay Act turns 50 in October, yet it has not achieved its intention of fair pay, is a crying shame. Currently, the gap between the average hourly earnings of a European male worker and Pacific female worker is at a

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dismal 27 percent. At the same time I am constantly inspired by the wāhine toa behind this campaign who are following in well-laid footsteps of women who have been fighting for fair.

Why do you think it’s important to share women’s unique stories?

Bee: I think women have been sharing

their stories among each other since time immemorial. We are community builders, hope-givers, empathetic communicators. It’s important we keep this sense of community and camaraderie as we navigate new and evolving challenges.

Mihi: And it’s important we take it

further in forums like these to remind others of our shared strength and resilience.

Tell us a bit about your unique journey, story, and business?

Bee: As a born wordsmith and problem solver I think my career chose me.

But for a while there I didn’t choose it back. After 10 years I fell out of love with the job. Becoming a mother and a diagnosis in my family played a part in me pausing for thought. But when I discovered a book called conscious marketing - a penny dropped and I realised I could combine my talents and experience and apply my energy

only to brands that were set on making an impact. After eight years on my own, partnering with Mihi on some voluntary work in lockdown 2020 was the start of something beautiful.

“I want to do my bit to lay ground so my girls can have a fairer shot than I had and the generations before me had.” BEE

Mihi: My journey into communications

has not been a traditional linear path.

I came to it via a media background and it’s really important to me that young women know that you don’t have to follow a prescribed academic path to be successful in our industry.

I’m a believer that once you finally decide what you want and tell the universe, it will deliver. So you better be ready! Once Bee and I made the decision to work together the projects began to flow at pace. It was rewarding and the stories and impact have been powerful.

“I am also incredibly lucky to have an abundance of wāhine to look to and lean on, and each one plays a different role and brings a different inspiration.” MIHI

Why do you do what you do?

What challenges have you faced?

Who are the women who inspire/support you every day in achieving your goals?

Bee: I do what I do so I can use my talents as a channel for good. It’s my kaupapa and I know it in my bones. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and what keeps me going on the tough days. I also do it for my girls. I was told as a child that I could be or achieve anything. And while there were times as a sick young mum covered in poo and spew and completely drained of energy - let’s forget that for a minute, I want them to know that there are many ways to solve a problem or achieve success and that ultimately that is true.

Bee: Firstly my daughters, Florence and Molly, are the most inspirational duo a creative like me could have. I go to them for jokes, comfort, even career advice. Like this nugget the other day when I was struggling with the juggle and was apologising for working too much, Miss 7 said, “Don’t worry about me Mum. The world needs you. But if you need to hire someone so you can do less, then just do that.” My grandmothers are also a major inspiration. They had 8 and 10 kids each. And one was involved in campaigning for women’s rights.

Whenever I am struggling with the juggle or going into a challenging meeting, I channel them and think - if they can get through what they did, then I can get through this. I always have a keepsake of one of my grandmothers close. My mum is one of the smartest people I know and a regular confidante of the business.

My sister is super talented and I look up to her and how she has overcome adversity time and again. Mihi is a total inspiration and I am grateful every day for her pulling me and our kaupapa along. And our team - Tilly and Noenoe. I read once to hire people who are smarter than you - and that is what we did with these two.

Mihi: I do what I do because there are so many amazing people doing incredible things to change the world, who don’t get the attention they deserve, and I want to support those people in my mahi. Bee and I partnered over a shared value base and we are two halves of a whole. Māia is something so special that is stronger than the sum of its parts. Our skills complement each other while our intuition is in tune.

2022 is set to be a big year for us and we can’t wait to see the ripple effects of impact for our client whānau. In terms of challenges, it’s been interesting starting a business in the midst of a pandemic but our growth has reinforced that what we do has never been needed more.

Mihi: Yes, constant admiration and

respect for these two incredible humans. I am also incredibly lucky to have an abundance of wāhine to look to and lean on, and each one plays a different role and brings a different inspiration. My Kui is a constant reference point of the woman I want to be - she had 13 children, a really strong husband and lived in a time that was incredibly tough for wāhine Māori and Māori in general - not that things are easy for Māori now by any stretch! She is a strong silent force and I feel her presence around me all the time. Her photo sits on my desk to inspire me and I look to her often.

My Mum is always there to support me and is my number one fan, I definitely couldn’t do what I do without her tautoko and aroha. My sister is a constant inspiration - especially in the way she has raised my nieces.

And I also have a powerful group of girlfriends, and I am supported and motivated by them, their successes and their unique greatness every day.

This business Bee and I are building is something I am so proud of, and I get strength and inspiration from being able to be on this journey with her. I’m so thankful for her brilliant brain, her beautiful words and her strong spirit.

maiastudio.co @maiastudionz

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Trina laracy Kāpiti fashion stores: Paperdoll, Holy Smoke and Wallflower

If I was to pick one woman who has inspired me, I would have to say it was my mum. I’m the eldest of four children in a family where Dad was frequently away working. Mum was the key figure in our home and although I rebelled when I was young, she did become my best friend and confidante. I think the relationship with a mum is so important as a woman.

My early life was spent on a tropical island surrounded by frangipani, hibiscus, coconut and banana trees. It was a truly idyllic life of fun in the sun. As a young girl, if I wasn’t out in the sun and sea, I was dressing up my dolls, the cat, my friends, my siblings, or myself, or cutting out and dressing my paper dolls. Life was simple and I was allowed to pursue the things that inspired me. I think that helped a lot with the development of my creative instinct.

From as early as I can remember I was interested in colour, clothing, and fabrics. Mum was a talented dressmaker, and her old green Husqvarna sewing machine ran hot with all of us shoving each other aside to get in and make the next outfit, before it was put into the dye pot for colouring. Mum was always there as a guide – even if we didn’t think we needed help! Through all of the hustle and bustle of family life she taught us so many valuable life lessons, and she believed we could do anything.

I was one of those kids who would turn up at the park to play wearing knee-high white boots, a long blonde wig and an improvised fabric dress. As I got older, I’d raid Mum’s linen cupboard stealing her white sheets so I could cut them up and make them into clothes. It was all about colour and the next step was a pot of dye on the stovetop and changing the outfit to a gorgeous bordeaux colour. Before I knew it, I had orders coming out of my ears! Poor Mum - she was shelling out for sheets frequently.

Returning to New Zealand to attend high school brought us to Hawke’s Bay, where I spent my late teens and most of my early adulthood. School held little interest for me, and I would often take a day off to hang out in Mum’s fabric room. Sewing, cups of tea, and a bit of Young and the Restless with Mum taught me so much more than my maths teacher!

In my late teens a stint in Taranaki lead to me opening my first shop in partnership with a friend. We sold clothes and local crafts, and part of the shop was dedicated to Trade Aid. I loved the sense of accomplishment and independence that came with having my own business. As a woman there are so many areas where others dictate the terms. But in my business, I had freedom.

Sadly, tragedy struck at age 21 when Mum died in a car accident.

Being the eldest, my natural instinct was to care for my siblings, so I returned to Napier. I picked up a job testing wool and later went on to various retail clothing jobs. I soon found that I loved helping other women look good. Often, they would come in not knowing where to start with their wardrobe, and for me it was a challenge that I relished. I saw that women felt better about themselves when they looked in the mirror and liked what they saw. Fashion retail seemed to bring together so many things that motivated me in life and it just became part of me. But I also discovered that I enjoyed sales. Let’s face it, however much you love what you do - if you don’t have sales, you have a hobby, not a business!

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My next adventure was a move to Wellington where I met designer Sophie Voon. We made a great team - she would create the clothes out the back, and I would find them a new owner. We’ve remained close after all these years and she has been an inspiration for me – as a designer, a business owner, and as a friend. I like to develop my own ideas rather than following others, and she is the same. I like that approach to life, and I admire people who can do that. It doesn’t take much to copy someone else, but it takes imagination and courage to pursue your own ideas.

After a marriage breakup, I moved to Raumati South with my two sons. When the youngest started school in 2006 Sophie agreed to open a Voon store in Raumati Village with me as manager. It was about the same time a new man, Bede, came into my life and over time I could see that he showed interest in my ideas. We made a solid team and we both had a focus on the importance of people. In 2011 I decided it was time I did my own thing, and Paperdoll came to life. Finally, I was back in business for myself and channelling my creativity to build something unique! I hand-picked only the best pieces from the designers I chose to work with, and I sought out fabrics, colours, and textures that made my heart sing – I was in heaven!

I loved being a part of the community in Raumati and I still do. I get to connect with so many amazing customers and we often have the most heartfelt chats. We do life, we laugh, and we share our thoughts and dreams, and in the process I dress them. Helping them look and feel good is what brings me joy.

I’ve watched their kids grow from babies to young women who now also come and buy a dress for a ball or a date. All of those women provide inspiration for what I do. Without their loyalty I would not have a business, but most of all I would be unable to live my passion. I believe it is this passion and building close connections that is the reason Paperdoll has been so successful.

“Self-belief, imagination, and creativity – keys to success. ” In 2014 we became frustrated with the lack of options locally for men, so Bede and I opened Holy Smoke. Let’s face it, a lot of Kāpiti men could use a bit of help with their wardrobes!

We try to cater for a range of styles in Holy Smoke. It’s an adventure that leaves so many men feeling satisfied and looking forward to coming back. Although Bede is the face of Holy Smoke, it’s my eye that dictates the look of the shop and styles of clothing for each season. I’m still the boss, but I couldn’t do it without him – he’s my consigliare!

Next came Wallflower in Coastlands in 2018. Wallflower grew out of a need for a unique boutique fashion experience in the shopping centre. It would be a place where I could create an exciting colourful space, offer beautiful dresses made by incredible women, and provide a sensational shopping experience to a whole new set of customers. It has a different

look and feel to Paperdoll, but it still fulfils many of the same goals of injecting energy into our customers’ lives and wardrobes.

Ever the optimist, I’m someone who has always had faith in God and myself. Mum always said there’s no such thing as can’t, but Dad is a ‘words of affirmation’ man, so I grew up with his positive outlook. As a result, I learned to trust my intuition early on and it has never let me down. I also try to surround myself with people who believe in me too.

I’m not someone who has a ten-year plan, and sometimes when Bede starts talking about things like profit and loss and cash flow, I start to glaze over and just ask – “does this dress look pretty on me?” Things for me seem to evolve organically and I’ve learned that success usually comes when I let life unfold rather than trying to force it. As humans we are never in complete control of our lives, so I listen to my gut.

And I encourage other women in business to tune into theirs and learn to trust.

Looking back, I realise I was always thinking up entrepreneurial ideas. But back then we didn’t know that buzz word - we just did what came naturally. As the businesses have grown, we’ve been able to take on young women and teach and expand their fashion knowledge. I’ve found it a privilege to be involved with developing the next generation of strong business women.

I have to admit though, that after developing three separate brands in both men’s and women’s fashion, I don’t have a lot of spare time these days. I’m someone who puts everything into what I do – hard work doesn’t scare me, and it is satisfying to see the fruits of my labour. But I would love to be able to put more time into family and friends and at the moment we’re in the process of looking at how we can simplify life. Work-life balance is important – but passion just keeps pulling me (and I listen)! The one thing I would say to any woman who is in business, or thinking about it, is to believe in yourself. Because the results of self-belief really are worth it.

paperdoll.net.nz wallflower.nz @Holysmokenz

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Lucy ambrose Digital dab hand by day, creative cake queen by night, business girlboss, enthusiastic life-liver

It took me a while to be OK with sharing all the dark corners of my story. But it’s opportunities like this - knowing that others are brave enough to share their own vulnerabilities too - that make us all feel a bit better about the struggles we’ve faced. Well, I do anyway.

I was in a new business meeting recently when I was asked to share some of my successes. They include that I have built over 70 websites over the last few years, that I’ve helped to make big differences to people’s businesses by focusing on some key digital elements, and that I have started and grown four businesses from scratch. It all sounds great when I lay it out like that, doesn’t it!? But things have most definitely not always been great.

Let me tell you about anxiety. These days this word is splashed around a bit more, which tells me that it’s not as taboo as it used to be. But 12 years ago, when I was first told that I suffered from anxiety, it was both a relief - that someone had been able to define what I was experiencing, and shameful - that I suffered from something that others viewed as weird and as a weakness. Our world, and our ability to be OK with mental illness, has shifted a lot since then.

So has our acceptance and compassion towards people who have suffered from personal trauma. You know, that specific time or moment in your life when the trajectory changes forever - and you are not in control. Sadly it’s not an uncommon story. Sadly, my own personal trauma affected my life in a way that I wouldn’t wish on anyone else.

I’m not an expert on mental illnesses, but I do know there are varying degrees of severity when it comes to how it affects people. In my case I developed an irrational fear that any ailment I was suffering from would lead to certain death. I know this sounds extreme, but in the thick of it, it was absolutely terrifying. I remember once dropping soap on my toe while I was in the shower and - even if somewhere deep inside I knew that everything would be OK - my anxiety overruled my sanity and I felt certain that I wouldn’t be around much longer.

That is an example of how powerful our minds are. Brain chemistry is whack. But, with the help of medication to help balance the chemistry, I am living proof that the power of the mind can be used to go in the other direction, too. That is, towards success. And that’s probably the reason I felt drawn to the theme of ‘break the bias’ for IWD this year. Because even though we have progressed in our understanding and acceptance of mental health, there is still such a lot of bias towards those who suffer.

For me, holding onto my childhood dream of owning my own business was the key to me finding a way through the madness. That and the support of my husband Dan who has been by my side for more than a decade. Together we have two amazing kids, and life is sweet. I have managed to redefine words in my life such as boundaries and balance, in a way that suits my life and my goals. And that alone knowing and accepting that you have the power to make changes for your own self - is everything.

lucyambrose.com 24

Rose lawson Jungle Botanics I was that kid who was obsessed with every flower, bug, fossil or tree I could find.

Growing up I was always creative and throughout school it became obvious that I wanted to study art at university. I was accepted into the fine arts degree in Christchurch, off on a big adventure, but I headed down there only to find that I felt like a huge imposter. Two years in, unable to get into the sculpture option I desired, I grew so frustrated that I dropped out. The silver lining of this was that I decided to study floristry instead (sculpture with flowers!) which I have loved now for over ten years. It is the perfect mix of creativity, a celebration of nature and a way of helping people share their loves and losses.

Throughout my twenties I headed off overseas, travelling and working throughout Australia to save enough for further travel. I had many crazily unique experiences, working in a tiny town in the Northern Territory and, later, on a tropical island in the Torres Strait. These were some of the hardest and most rewarding times, pushing me to really learn about myself. I often felt vulnerable as a female travelling alone, but discovering that I was capable of standing up for myself in these situations was incredibly empowering. That sense of personal strength has stayed with me, shaping who I am today.

I’ve been privileged to grow up with two strong female role models – my mother and my grandmother. My grandmother spent her life fighting for gender equality and being compassionate, supportive and passing down those traits to my mother. My mother has always supported me to do whatever makes me happy and I don’t take this for granted. All the same, it’s taken until my thirties to figure out how I define ‘success’ and believe it’s okay to follow my dreams.

Two years ago I returned home to establish my boutique terrarium business Jungle Botanics in Kāpiti. With business growing faster than expected, I had to decide what ‘success’ means to me. I don’t want to conquer the world, constantly getting bigger, increasing the stress. Instead, my goal is to create a stable income that allows me to live my life with more freedom and creativity and to have more time with the people I love, doing the things I love. That is my definition of success.

junglebotanics.co.nz

Photo: Monica Winder Photography

International Women’s Day reminds me that growing up in Aotearoa, surrounded by empowered, supportive and loving women, puts me in a very privileged position; I’ve always been encouraged to follow my heart. I try to use this privilege by always encouraging and supporting other women in my life to do the same.

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manna drummond Raumati Social Club

If someone had said to me ten years ago that I would someday be living in New Zealand by the sea, owning and running an iconic venue, I would have laughed them out of the room. But maybe that’s the lesson: to never underestimate the power of love.

I am from Guangzhou, China - a city with a busy economy.

It’s more liberal than some parts of mainland China, but for women in China, the cultural expectation is to find a husband, become a mother, and then look after them - along with your husband’s parents - in the role of housewife. So it came as a surprise to my family and friends when I met and fell in love with Hugo Drummond - a kiwi musician and teacher who was working as the principal of an international school where I worked at the time.

Hugo and I just clicked, and although I didn’t know a thing about music, I loved seeing the passion that Hugo had for his craft. We got married, and planned to stay in China for as long as we could. We talked about doing lots of different things - but when Hugo got sick with cancer we decided it was best that he come to New Zealand to be close to his family, and access the treatment he needed. My decision to leave my son Alex behind with his father so that I could be with the love of my life was so difficult. That was four years ago, and a lot has happened since.

Suddenly our long term plans were cut much shorter and with a new perspective on life, Hugo decided he wanted to do

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something different before he died. I was totally by his side and wanted to support him in whatever he wanted to do - no matter how crazy! We found a couple of businesses for sale on TradeMe in Wellington which looked interesting, but they both fell through. When we looked again Hugo saw that Raumati Social Club (RSC) was for sale. We knew nothing about hospo, and not much about Kāpiti, or the tight knit Raumati South community, but the fact that RSC was a music venue really spoke to Hugo. He loved music, he loved coffee. It was the perfect combination, so we went for it.

We moved to the Kāpiti community when we bought the business which was a great decision. It was amazing to be around Hugo while he was doing something that he loved to do, it is just so sad that he didn’t get to do it for longer. We knew that he had limited time so we were trying to work out what would happen when he passed. At the time we were expecting he had another year with us, but it turns out it was only three months. It was too soon, but by then the community knew us. They rallied around and helped, but it was a bit of a nightmare for me because I had no clue about anything, and I was alone. I learned in a very hard way. Learning has been an interesting journey. As a female foreigner, going head first into something completely new has been really challenging. I’m so grateful to the community for their support. They’ve helped carry me throughout these years, but what really keeps me going since Hugo passed is simply that this is his dream.

I’ve learnt a lot about music, and now I find I can talk to people about it, which helps. We’re lucky to have a community that is so supportive of music. I like welcoming interesting acts and pushing the boundaries. Like squeezing a 9-piece into

the corner and getting people up dancing. It’s a bit out there, but why not? We love the positive, funky vibes. That’s what we want to be known for.

At times I have felt like I was crazy to carry on with RSC. But I feel like we’ve come through the worst of the challenges now, and that’s given me some space to think about what the future might look like. I am always keen to try new things. I have lots of ideas and I have a vision of what the next evolution of RSC will look like.

As for hospo - that’s been a learning experience too. It’s been hard to gain respect from some male staff and suppliers. In the beginning I didn’t know anything at all so I got ripped off a lot, and it was a hard position. I decided to work with people who allow me to be me, and are “My experience has taught me willing to help me navigate my way through this the danger of passing judgement industry. I may not have on anyone whose story you don’t the background, but I have the ability to learn and know. We all have a story, and to honour my husband, and that will always be each is unique and valid.” important to me.

Looking ahead, I feel as though I have been in survival mode for a while. I was just finding my feet after losing Hugo when my darling son Alex came to New Zealand for a three-week visit. Then COVID hit, and Alex has been with me ever since. That’s definitely been the silver lining in all of this. I lost my husband, but I have my son back. He loves RSC too and enjoys meeting people. I’m proud to show him what hard work looks like, and he’s amazing - he actually helps out without being asked.

For example, I want to make a mark with our coffee. The three things we’re known for is coffee, food, and music. So why not make it interesting? I have created an RSC blend of coffee and it’s been getting great feedback from the locals who visit every day.

I am not the same person as when I started this chapter of my life. I really do feel that I can do anything now. I have had support from some incredible people - both women and men - and I feel proud to call this place my home. IWD is a new concept for me, as it’s not acknowledged in China, but I think it’s important. My experience has taught me the danger of passing judgement on anyone whose story you don’t know.

We all have a story, and each is unique and valid. Mine comes down to love. I really loved my husband. Without him, this would not be my story.

raumatisocialclub.co.nz

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Valerie reitnauer We Love Local In 2018 I wanted to create a sustainable gifting eco-system that supports local artisans and producers - making it easy for anyone to gift sustainably. So, three years ago, my husband Timo and I launched Kāpiti Goodies, initially showcasing local makers and servicing the Coast. Kāpiti Olive Oil was the first supplier to come on board and other local legends, including Sone’s Sauces.

In 2020 we acquired We Love Local, and - despite launching and running a business throughout the pandemic - we last year doubled the number of New Zealand producers in our gift boxes to more than 100. We also spread our wings outside of the Wellington region with the addition of Auckland, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay in our gift box range.

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Since Covid-19 arrived in New Zealand, we’ve seen only increasing demand from Kiwis who want to buy local and support local. We’ve returned more than $700,000 to small businesses around New Zealand – with some saying our support over the various lockdowns helped ‘keep their lights on’.

It’s an exciting and fulfilling time to be at the helm of conscious consumption.

Last year also saw my husband Timo join the business full-time, which was a huge step for us personally and in the business. What I love about working with him is that we bring complementary skills to the table – I’m all about delivering exceptional experiences for our clients and taking care of packing our gifts. Timo is fantastic at keeping operations running smoothly and building strong relationships with our suppliers.

It’s been thrilling to see our approach resonate with people and companies all over New Zealand. We’ve gone from operating out of our garage to a commercial space we quickly outgrew.

Last year, we moved into our very own warehouse right in the heart of Paraparaumu. In our incredibly busy times and seasons, it’s been amazing to see this space filling up with our suppliers’ products and our local packing team.

Timo and I care deeply about the environment and sustainability; these values sit at the heart of our business.

We believe communities can only thrive when they are connected and sustainable.

Our very first delivery vehicle was our electric car. We use only New Zealand made products to reduce our carbon footprint, and we give our customers the opportunity to offset emissions with CarbonClick. We only use 100% renewable energy at our commercial and home offices, and we pack all our gifts into a reusable wooden box filled with wood wool. We also source some of our reusable boxes right here in Kāpiti from The Shed Project.

Doing good also extends to how we look after others. For example, 1% of sales is donated to the One Percent Collective, supporting a range of charities including Kaibosh, Sustainable Coastlines and Bellyful.

You can also choose to purchase a Good Registry Card at check out.

We also pay the Living Wage to all our casual packing team because we believe it’s the right thing to do.

We were overjoyed to be recognised for championing sustainable business practices receiving the Sustainability Award at the 2021 Electra Business and Innovation Awards.

Also crucial to our success is the support we have from our local community. The Christmas 2021 gifting season saw more than 6,000 gift boxes sent all over New Zealand and overseas. We could only keep up with this demand thanks to a team of local mums who worked with us during the peak. I’ve always wanted to create a flexible work environment that supports local families, so to be able to do that (and have fun along the way) felt incredible.

Even though we’re going through a rapid period of growth, I still want to make the We Love Local experience a personal one. I still take orders over the phone and talk with those looking for the perfect gift for a loved one.

Often these conversations happen during a major life event – like a loss or birth – and it’s a privilege for me to connect people through food.

I’m always looking for a new way to put a personal touch on our gifts, and last year we worked hard to offer a corporate service with unique touches - from bespoke branding to what goes

into the box (including cookies this year!). I love making someone’s day when they open their gift and see something made just for them.

This year it’s our goal to be in every region of New Zealand by the end of 2022. 97% of business in New Zealand are small businesses, employing fewer than 20 employees – what’s not to love about loving local. Every customer means so much to us; we know the personal stories of all our artisan producers - where they’re from and what they’ve made. It’s hard to think what a small inkling of an idea in 2018 has become in 2022.

I want to remind my daughter (and all women) to chase your dreams. I am grateful we get to show our daughter Zoe the entrepreneurial nature and kindness of gifting. She also gets to see me working in a business, showing her that you can create a thriving business from something you’re passionate about. If I could give advice to a 20-year-old Val, I would tell her to approach every life event positively.

There is always a solution or path - you just need to find it.

This year, we will continue to the story of Aotearoa through food and experiences – all from the Kāpiti Coast. It’s amazing what you can create when you put your mind to it.

Happy International Women’s Day.

welovelocal.nz

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Nadia Watson Vodeci Studio A long way from humble beginnings, I reflect upon my journey from where I grew up on the West Coast of Auckland and how this has shaped my life which I describe as an eclectic tapestry and patchwork of living experiences and lifestyles.

People and experiences are what make us and from where we have come from, we have this ability to take from it, and make of it, what we will. A strong mindset and fighting spirit all helped shape me into the person I am today.

My goal since I was young has been to create a new pathway, be a leader, set an example for my siblings and my children, and to be successful financially. Through life I have had to overcome much adversity. I have always smashed the walls down around me and never wished to be limited or bound by the status quo. I haven’t intentionally tried to be challenging, I simply just am. And that’s by living freely and with conviction which quite often challenges people, but hopefully only for the better.

Changing my life’s direction from the pathway I’d been given meant I had to move away, which is when I moved to Wellington. Changes are made by choice but to choose to change means challenges! In other words, we don’t grow unless we are challenged.

Something has to usually be quite uncomfortable in order for us to be ruffled out of our cozy nest.

When asked to write an article on myself for International Women’s

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Day, my first thought was I’m more about celebrating people in general, not gender specific. I’m not too much into labels but rather take all as they are. Although Breaking the Bias resonates with me strongly. All of who I am and what I have done is about breaking down those walls. I loved that one definition of breaking a Bias, it was referred to as a direction diagonal to the weave of a fabric. I love this immensely, as it speaks volumes without having to use so many words.

My career has seen me successfully work in an array of amazingly rewarding roles. I have worked as a hairdressing tutor, leading classroom and salon-based learning: teaching great baseline hairdressing skills and encouraging future industry leaders.

Moving to Sydney and training at the Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy was a highlight in the next phase of my career. Because of my prior experience I just shone. I was offered a number of top industry jobs, grabbed every opportunity and was rewarded greatly for it.

Although life is never a straight line - different things are sent to try us.

Because I was studying with a large group of girls predominantly younger than me and jealous, I had a tough time - although I didn’t let that bring me down. I recall one day a fiery girl a daddy’s little girl who had everything and thought everything would land rather than being worked for - stood over me and said ‘why don’t you get off your stage and let somebody else shine for a change?’ All I said back was, ‘thank you for acknowledging my shine! And nobody is stopping you from stepping up and shining also!’ All I was doing was my best: minding my own business, doing my best business.

And all she had to do was continue to do that for herself.

some great iconic styles which were being highly recognized internationally. In that moment I said to myself ‘I am going to work there!’

After rubbing shoulders and meeting different leading industry people at a fashion show where we were doing hair and makeup for the models, I met that salon’s manager, we hit it off and next minute I was sending my CV! I got a second part interview with Sharon Blain and I was crapping myself! She asked me many questions but only one question stood out: ‘where were you during this time?’

My world came crumbling down. Why are we always held accountable to times of our lives when something happened or went wrong or maybe you were unwell? I’d worked always, but for a period of seven years I had suffered with Fybromyalgia which is completely debilitating.

I worked part time and having Sharon ask me about it made me feel like the world again once again caved in. I left that interview, crawled into bed and beat myself up thinking I was such a failure.

It’s funny that I did that when I reflect back. I just came down so hard on myself but I knew in my mind that where I’d come from, I was, and continued to be, a great success. It’s just that at points in our life bias is trying to pull you back! I was resisting it, but it did have a hold on me in that moment.

Despite all the successes, my triumphs, and my ability I was pulled back to ‘why?’ Some things don’t have an answer and can’t be explained and that’s OK! But please see me as I am now.

Long story short, there will always be people trying to compare or tear you down if they are threatened or jealous of you. Break the Bias and don’t let people hold you to their own measure!

You can only continue smashing through your own!

The good news is I got called to come in for a third part interview. It was the most intense interview process I’ve ever experienced! I got the job and loved working at The Art of Hair in Beecroft, Sydney for almost three years. I gained great skills, had amazing experiences, and made great friends.

Some time after that I flicked through a magazine and saw a hairdressing icon and salon who were smashing

Moving back to New Zealand, Levin Horowhenua was the greatest move for us as we had our two daughters Poppy

and Olive in Sydney. Now that I was pregnant again we needed to build our family home, and where we then had Frankie.

Horowhenua has so much to offer, I loved that I could be a creator and invent myself and build my business and future successes here. There is so much opportunity if you wish to reach for it and go for it. It is there. Which is exactly what I’ve done!

“Although life is never a straight line - different things are sent to try us”

It was back to grass roots - I hadn’t worked in a salon in my area and therefore I didn’t have any clientele, so when I reflect on the enormity of my starting a business, signing a lease and fitting out a salon which was the old Vodafone shop, I kind of hop and skip - a madly ‘clicking my feet together, Dorothy’ moment - and pinch myself!

Then I have a little ‘Miranda sings’ moment. Haters Back off! So Vodeci Studio in Levin was born.

I have managed to find my people and build my village in a short space of time, successfully. I have a ‘grow the future’ mindset and for those who are willing to work for it and participate in collaborative success, we all succeed!

When I’m going somewhere, you go somewhere too.

I like to treat others the way that I want to be treated and anyone who doesn’t align with that falls away. And we are OK with that.

I look forward to continuing to build the salon family by employing stars of the industry even if they don’t see their own shine yet, I’ll support them to bring out their brightness.

vodecistudio.nz

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Alisha lewis That Little Cake Shop As I sit here at the start of 2022 writing this piece, I’m going to be honest and say that I almost pulled out of contributing to this journal. Everything has seemed too hard and my priorities are torn. But I reminded myself that the last 12 months are worth celebrating and the hard work deserves acknowledgement. So here we go…

My passion for delectable cakes started when I was a teenager. I did a cake decorating class at Kāpiti College, after always having a love for baking and cake decorating as a child. This course didn’t lead anywhere in that moment as life had other plans and I ended up being a young single mum with three girls under two. It’s fair to say that I had no time.

Things shifted when one of my twin girls was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and coeliac at the age of 12. This event was a catalyst for me discovering that I was also gluten intolerant and all of my children were coeliac. It was at this time that I started experimenting with baking due to the lack of food products available. The world has changed a lot since 2010 but at that time I needed to find solutions for my family.

Fast forward a few years and it was time for me to reevaluate life and in 2017 I gave up my job to move to Kāpiti. The plan was to be a stay-at-home mum as I had had another little baby boy by that stage, to bake part time and maybe try to turn my passion into an income. I began my business small via Facebook and Instagram. The Kāpiti people were awesome and embraced my wee business, I was overwhelmed by the response. We quickly got food licenses from the council and officially became known as That Little Cake Shop. From there the business grew organically and we launched the website and our first store in 2021. Yes, during a global pandemic I was out there launching a new shop in Wellington.

We have all had to be nimble in these changing times and currently due to Covid we are getting back to our roots and doing markets. I enjoy Saturdays at the markets in Kāpiti and am loving selling our macarons to the Kāpiti community where it all began. We have had to constantly change things with Covid and there have been some positive adjustments such as our ‘mini cake’ which we love and is one of our top sellers. This product was created during lockdown and we delivered it to doorsteps for people to still have a cake to celebrate with. We were lucky to be able to operate in lockdowns and gained so much joy delivering our Mother’s Day 2020 and Father’s Day 2021 treats, during those tough times. It was amazing delivering treats when people needed them most and seeing people so happy!

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That Little Cake Shop is all about people and we pay a living wage to all of our team as it’s those people who bring joy and love to our products. We also try to use free range and organic ingredients as much as possible in all of our baking.

Supporting other local suppliers is an important part of who we are and we are proud to use Dark Horse coffee in our Wellington store. We also put as many strategies in place as possible to look after the environment and reduce our waste.

We use compostable packaging as much as we can within the business and are always exploring new ways of doing things.

I am often asked why macarons are such a passion for me. I became obsessed when travelling overseas (I travelled 2 - 3 times a year prior to Covid) and they took me 18 months to perfect. It is my own recipe, created through years of trial and practice. My idea behind our macarons is that I wanted to take something ‘fancy’ and make them ‘kiwi’. We do flavours like bubblegum and M&Ms, sherbet, popping candy and then match these with some classics - raspberry, lemon, chocolate.

These are my absolute favourite things to make!

The best things about my business are working from home, doing something I love, connecting with our customers and being a part of making someone’s celebration special. How lucky am I?!

Who knows what 2022 will hold but we are planning to finish our Wellington store and start stocking more New Zealand made products.

As a mum of three daughters, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect and celebrate all of our achievements and to know that anything is possible. I need to remind myself of this when I lose sight of the opportunity.

thatlittlecakeshop.co.nz

Monique davidson Soon-to-be Chief Executive of Horowhenua District Council My name is Monique Davidson – a mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunty and a very proud Horowhenua girl.

People still look surprised when they hear I am a product of a small town called Levin. I was born and raised in Ōhau, in the same family home that my father was raised. A home filled with a whole lot of love, and the place where my four brothers, sister and I were taught the values of hard work, honesty and looking beyond material things in life. It was our humble and modest upbringing that ignited our ambition as our parents worked hard to ensure we never went without. But we were also encouraged to give everything a go and be the very best versions of ourselves. Gender didn’t define the way we were raised, and each of us were given equal opportunities to make the most of what was in front of us.

In 2017 I left Horowhenua with my husband John and two children Lachlan and Georgia, to embark on the journey of becoming Chief Executive of the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council. The youngest Chief Executive in Local Government at age 29. In May 2022, we will return to our beloved hometown where I will begin the role of Chief Executive at Horowhenua District Council. For me it’s an opportunity to provide positive leadership and give back to the community that has contributed so much to my story.

And while I sit here reflecting on International Women’s Day and the celebration of achievement, equality and success of women, I can’t help but hope that our stories never forget the village of people – men and women - who play a vital role in those stories.

There are many people who have shaped and supported my journey thus far - my mother, grandmothers, my sister, the village of women my mother calls her dearest friends, and the women along the way that are my best friends today – they embody grace, integrity, and kindness. But on reflection, men have influenced my confidence and decisions as much as women. My father, husband, and brothers are notable mentions, as are the teachers, professors, mentors, and employers – my story is reflective of not just one, but many women and men who believed in me, encouraged me, and inspired me to be the fiercely loyal, determined, and purposeful young woman I am today.

In today’s world where in the face of opportunity, many are presented with so much adversity, I can’t help but ponder on the important role we all have to #breakthebias, and collectively as men and women raise the bar in celebrating equality for all.

horowhenua.govt.nz

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CLAIRE MANCE Talk Communications

Being a woman is a complicated and beautiful beast is it not? On one hand, I don’t particularly like to hone in on the fact that being a woman defines me. Because I just am who I am and I offer up to the world as much of my authentic self as I possibly can. That said, how fricken incredible is it to embrace being a woman - exploring all of the incredible roles and responsibilities that are offered up to us in life?

As I sit here and write this, now seven months pregnant with my first child, I reflect on how proud and privileged I am to be able to experience the imminent role of mother; alongside small business owner, wife, aunt, daughter, sister, niece and friend. All of these relationships and roles uniquely formed in alignment with being a woman.

As I ponder and plan for this next chapter - motherhood - I find it interesting to reflect back on what’s

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brought me to this point in my life! It’s been colourful, to say the least, and it always bemuses me that, in part, we must make the call about what lessons and learnings of that life we now intend to impart upon our children.

As part of this reflection, I affirmed my intentions for 2022 - authentic relationships; strength of mind; environment. None of which surprises me.

As a child and young adult, I moved around a lot. Internationally, from

bonny Scotland to the land of the long white cloud. During my adolescent years, I possibly relocated across 15+ homes. My twenties saw me visit and reside in a multitude of countries across Europe and the United Kingdom, with my 30’s dominated by cityscape living, transitioning from one apartment to the next. So as I stare toward my 40’s, it’s no surprise to me that ‘Environment’ made the cut.

That being, creating spaces full of love, stability, resilience, acceptance, FUN and learning.

I’ve always been a very sensitive character, picking up body language, tone, and creative expression as a means of reading what someone is really thinking and feeling. Something I think can take a huge toll on you when the relationships you form aren’t necessarily

serving your best interests. So, again, it is of no surprise that ‘Authentic Relationships’ made the list. I firmly believe in surrounding yourself with individuals who authentically want what’s best for you. Those who will prop you up, allow you to lean on them when you need to, sharing your deepest truths and desires with full trust that they’ll protect that knowledge. Giving and receiving the gift of authentic connection is imperative for me in both life and business.

And ‘Strength of Mind’. Well, I think that one relates to everything I stand for. That’s my core purpose really. The small business I own and navigate, TALK, has always been about individuals feeling safe enough to share their truth, their story - helping them authentically connect with the customers, funders, and partners that will help see them reach their full potential. Confidence and strength of mind feels like our greatest asset toward reaching that end goal.

Anything I engage in, apply myself to, or support tends to be connected to that intent. Take the enablement or promotion of a leadership programme for example. It might seem like I am simply supporting a corporate leadership event or community initiative. But my core driver is

always what I want those participants to experience or take away from it. I want them to have their ‘aha’ moment in life! Or a rental property website. On the surface, it feels quite transactional. But in my mind, it’s a keyhole for someone looking to find an environment that enables them to live well and thrive.

authentic connections with the good humans they seek to serve.

So in the spirit of coming full circle, how does womanhood relate to my story, my business? What does being a woman really mean to me?

I do wonder if that’s where I get a little unstuck sometimes.

“Share your insights, gifts and I’ve learnt that perhaps I don’t make talents with all of the other that intention clear enough in my initial incredible feminine figures engagements with potential peers, clients around you.” and new forms of inspiration. Because if the collaborator or recipient of our thinking and work I think it means self-love. Investing isn’t also thinking that deeply about time in the relationships and actions their intent, TALK is probably not that help you grow a self-appreciation quite the right partner. Because we so strong that it radiates past you will push! We will ask the difficult, and and enables you to selflessly support sometimes uncomfortable, questions others. in order to uncover the heart of a cause or purpose. If you don’t have that It’s having a strong sense of clear, it’s harder (if not impossible) to honesty, above all. Showing up in execute upon your lofty vision. life truthfully, even if that means being uncomfortable and vulnerable Examples aside, I’m proud of our sometimes. That’s when you know purpose at TALK; supporting purposeyou’re growing! led causes and organisations to build I think it’s generosity.

Share your insights, gifts and talents with all of the other incredible feminine figures that surround you!

And it’s bravery. Bravery in being able to say I’m not OK, I need your help, I want to connect with you because I know we can do this better together!

As a lasting thought, I think it’s incredibly difficult to populate a sense of your own story upon two pages - but I am so grateful for the opportunity. Sharing just a smidgen of it opens the door to more connections and conversations as a result. And, well, this lady here likes to talk.

talkcommunications.nz

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an assistant teacher by age 12 and by the time I was 16 I had my own classes and the chance to introduce new dance genres and manage a performance team. I was totally in my element.

It was around this time that I met my husband. It sounds crazy, but it’s true!

My dance teacher was choreographing a show for Coasters and she invited some senior dancers to be in the show.

I remember it so clearly: I was doing a cartwheel and forward roll onto the stage when a young man in the tech team caught my eye. I crashed down at the end of the roll and swiftly exited stage left in embarrassment. That was the first moment I saw Tim, the man who became my husband and incredible partner in both business and life. I raced backstage and shared with the dressing room, “I think I’ve just seen the man I’m going to marry!”. After a few years of friendship, Tim and I started dating, and the rest is history. Without Tim understanding my dream and helping to bring the vision to life, DAPA would not exist.

Alicia Kindell Dreams Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA)

When you walk into the studios at DAPA there are quotes on the walls and this one really speaks to me for International Women’s Day, “You become what you believe”.

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved to perform. At three years old I was wiggling, at six years old I landed a main part in a Coasters Musical Theatre production, and from there my love of performance grew so I started dance classes.

I am so grateful that my parents saw my enthusiasm and allowed me to pursue my passion. Along the way I have been presented with some fantastic opportunities which broadened my performance skills, and ultimately led me down the path of teaching. From a very early age I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to share joy, fun and knowledge - I didn’t want to just be a performance dancer. I was

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I continued my path of dancing and performing and made the decision I wanted to be a registered Royal Academy of Dance teacher. In order to do this training you had to pass your advanced ballet exam. So I worked hard, sat the exam, and… I failed! I was devastated. I had never failed at something before. I didn’t know how to fail, and in the process I lost my confidence. I thought my world was over, I cut my hair short and mustered the courage to tell the studio owner that I wouldn’t be a dance teacher after all.

I walked away thinking that I didn’t want other kids to fail and feel how I did.

As I approached the end of high school, I was lost in what I wanted to do. I didn’t think I wanted to dance anymore. It was at that time the Music Academy approached me about helping them run the school, that things shifted.

They asked if I could sing and tested my voice. Then they asked if I had thought about musical theatre, and that’s when something sparked inside me again. I auditioned to do a Musical Theatre degree and got in straight away because of my dance background.

Once I had finished that degree I had a born. Friends reached out because In 2021 we expanded the studio to the ‘what do I do now?’ moment. I started they had just bought a commercial upper level of our current location, volunteering at a school for gifted building, and asked us what we were where we now have a dedicated drama children and I taught dance class. The doing with the business. This was like studio, additional barre studio and school had a drama teacher and we oxygen reigniting the spark in me; the shop. We needed a customised space connected. He was teaching speech universe giving us a sign. Tim looked to deliver the best experience for all of and drama to a small group of kids at the building and he saw the vision. our students. I look back now and think and he had a small drama school. But Although, while Tim could see it as the we must have been crazy to expand in he was relocating overseas so I was perfect studio space, I couldn’t see it the uncertain Covid times that we are offered the opportunity to take on his yet. We sat down and drew the layout all living in. But it always comes back to kids. That was the start of me really on pieces of paper and worked out how BELIEF and I think deep down I knew understanding the passion I had for we could create studio spaces. We took that we could make it work. all things performance.

While I always try to I started Dreams Drama maintain belief, it doesn’t School with eight kids and mean I don’t doubt myself it just kept doubling every daily. I lose belief and I week. The growth was think what am I doing? awesome - I could teach “I’m through with playing by the But I try to surround musical theatre classes myself with people who and not compete with rules of someone else’s game. Too remind me that I can do it. other studios. I consider myself a very loyal person. late for second guessing, too late to If I had one piece of I never wanted to compete wisdom to share, it’s that go back to sleep. It’s time to trust my against other local studios, all relationships you and deeply respect the form are important. The instincts, close my eyes, and leap!” creative talent here in way you connect in this Kāpiti. community is important.

Words Defying Gravity, from Wicked the Musical You should always come Dreams Drama School at it from a place of focused on drama classes kindness. If people let you and musical theatre. That down you can’t lose belief. ticked along for a while, If you get burnt, be the and then I took some time bigger person and respond out to have my gorgeous a leap of faith and created DAPA, with with empathy and honesty. I haven’t kids Mikaela and Logan. When Mikaela Tim transforming our studio space and achieved my dream without lifelong was three I started the drama school together we prepared DAPA for launch. support and close relationships from again. The school had grown a lot - we sooo many people in the community. had 250 kids - and it got to the point I remember waking up on the morning Connections open doors and help you where I needed to either expand or of our first open day at DAPA, and soar. quit. So we explored buying a dance bursting into tears because I was studio on the Coast, found a spot, and afraid no one would turn up. Just We all need an opportunity to express at the eleventh hour the agreement another moment of self doubt, ourselves freely through performance, fell through. It felt like another ‘failure’ which was unwarranted, because we dance and drama. A space free of bias moment. I was devastated, and couldn’t were overwhelmed as families and where individuality is encouraged and see a way forward. In a split second I kids streamed through the doors. I students from all different backgrounds let go of the dream and told myself that remember Tim turning to me on that can connect through a shared love of it wasn’t meant to be. I have to say, it is day and saying, ‘we did it’. the performing arts. DAPA has been my exhausting almost having something dream realised, and if I have helped just None of this would be possible without and then losing it. one other person achieve their potential our incredible teaching staff. The or dream then all the hard work, tears But, of course, something was niggling teachers make this place a family and and sleepless nights have been worth it. in the back of my head. I knew that are like sisters to me. I’m grateful to there was a need in the community be surrounded by such a talented and Happy pirouette-ing and bring on 2022! for fun dance classes and a place professional group of women. We all that offered a depth of classes in bring something unique to the table dapa.nz all things performance. I needed to and we work together to wrap ourselves find a way to offer people access to around all of our students and help all things performance in one spot. them to fly.

That’s when the dream of DAPA was

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Robyn De la haye Essence Architectural Design I feel it’s so important to have women you can aspire to, and to look up to. Both in business and in personal life. Listening to women talk about their experiences and the hardships that they have had to overcome has been incredible for me. You are not on the same journey, but at times you come up against similar obstacles.

Perhaps you can take inspiration from what they have learnt.

You can also have courage to aspire to your goals, but without trampling on others as you do so. For me the most important balance is strength and courage, blended with compassion and kindness.

After leaving school my primary goal was to travel. I worked in various government departments, in staff and salaries, and at age 20 spent nearly six months on my OE travelling, including three months in Europe in a VW Kombi van with my parents. I had anxiety growing up, I didn’t have the confidence to go and do tertiary study or move out of home.

Upon returning to New Zealand I felt stagnant in similar roles for the next two years. I needed to explore my passion which was design. I had done various courses via correspondence in design both based in New Zealand and London. This only inspired me further and after experiencing some stress in a long term relationship I got to the point where I thought, “damn it, what do I WANT to do with my life – no matter what anyone says?”, and the answer was to study design.

So I applied and started at age 24 to study a full time four year degree in a Bachelor of Design at CIT. WOW it felt so good to do something for me, to study something I was truly passionate about. I was inspired, motivated and I soaked up every aspect of learning about design. I knew that I had found my calling.

Upon graduating it was really tough out there to gain employment. Architects kept saying, “I don’t need a designer, I do this myself.” It certainly helped that I had office experience and the confidence to do this. I managed to secure two part time positions with Wellington Architects, doing commercial office interiors. I loved learning on the job, no more sitting at a desk pushing paper from one side to another. I was out and about going to sites, meeting new clients, and following through a design process.

Seeing the transformation of these spaces into something I had created, was really rewarding.

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However, the pull of overseas travel was strong and at age 29, my fiancé and I travelled through Queensland, Perth, four months overland through Africa, and onto the UK. We used this as a base for additional travel to the Dominican Republic where we were married. Then France, Venice, Barcelona, Egypt, Sinai and an overland trip through India and up into Nepal. I worked in Edinburgh, London and Lewes near Brighton, for architects, doing various design projects for highend offices, house interiors, hotels and restaurants.

Returning to Wellington in 2002, I secured a design job with Pelorus Architecture once again doing commercial interiors, high-end interior design and alterations to residential homes.

However I was disheartened to realise that if I wanted to have a family, I could not afford childcare, so a friend said why not start your own company. I had never even considered this was a possibility. So I took a call centre position for two and a half days and worked three days a week, building up Essence Design. I had the help of a lovely student nanny, which enabled me to work 20 hours per week from home. Envisaging Essence would be all about interior design, and I was surprised to learn that people actually wanted Architectural Design - so my career took off. My first commission was one of the most challenging projects I have ever worked on. Excavating beneath a villa to create a two bedroom apartment for the client’s Mother in Law. I would take our nanny Stacey and our daughter Taylor and between site meetings or measuring things, I would pop into their bedroom to breastfeed. The juggle was real but I was doing it!

I had a mentor for the first two years, who helped with the tricky detailing. I joined Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) and am now a licenced building practitioner which means I can design up to three storey high buildings.

What sets me apart as an architectural designer, is that I have a design degree, and the knowledge of interior architecture.

My years of travelling have helped in terms of thinking laterally, considering texture, attention to detail and place in the environment. Each commission is unique to me, we listen to our clients’ wants and needs and interpret this into a master plan. It is very important to me that we keep to a level of costs they can afford. We have a policy that we don’t progress further than developed design, without the checking of design, versus clients’ expectations and costs to construct.

One challenge for me as a woman is that this is a very male dominated industry. Within ADNZ, out of 38 Architectural

“You are not on the same journey, but at times you come up against similar obstacles. Perhaps you can take inspiration from what they have learnt.”

Designers in the Wellington region, there are only eight women. I have learned through experience as a woman to walk onto a construction site and take control. You have to be confident, you have to be courageous. You also have to do your homework, your research and if perhaps there is going to be confrontation about poor workmanship, then it helps you to envisage scenarios, and how you might respond to this to get the best outcome for everyone.

Essence Design is now a design practice of four. We are a great team of women who are all passionate about design and we strive to improve. Whether it is new technology, office systems or continuing our professional development.

I am loving seeing our staff develop into really talented architectural designers. They are from different backgrounds.

One is an architect from india. We have a great culture and we encourage study and impoving knowledge. We have really good design discussions and creative flow. It is really inspiring.

I am working with a business mentor who is helping me define the ‘why’ and ‘where to’ of Essence Design. I am excited to see where this will take us, and to create an exciting future for both myself and my staff.

Going through lockdown 1 was a huge challenge for me, having staff work from their homes and managing the process remotely. However it was also really enlightening. I am passionate about design but also about having a lifestyle for myself and being flexible with our staff. A dream is to travel around New Zealand in our caravan, and work a couple of hours a day, whilst still managing our team. Lockdown has made this dream possible. It’s totally achievable and I’m looking forward to this in the very near future. My staff also have the ability to be flexible with their lifestyle, you don’t have to work 9-5, we realise this now, you can work around a family life.

I feel grateful to have a network of inspiring, spirited women around me to help me navigate business mindfulness and yoga - among other things. There is something quite special about gathering energy from strong, courageous, compassionate and kind women who are unique in their own ways. It encourages self reflection and creates inner calm and balance.

When I think about some of the personal challenges I’ve faced, I feel so grateful that I work for myself. I had a son who, from the age of eight months old till nearly five, was anaphylactic to egg and peanuts, and a daughter who’s suffered from anxiety since the age of 5. My kids are now teenageers, so it has been amazing to be able to work around their needs, and to make more time for them as they’ve moved into their college years.

My business has allowed this for our family.

One of the biggest inspirations in my life was my mum, who was everything I aspire to be. Strong, courageous and compassionate. Irene (Mum) had a massive stroke on my 27th birthday and her motto then became ‘I can do it’. She learnt to walk again, to communicate, to drive a car, to live independently right up till the last few years. I draw strength from her courage and would not be the woman I am today without her inspiration. Let’s all celebrate the amazing women who surround us this International Women’s Day.

essencedesign.co.nz

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Charlotte Tollervey & Natalie Rutene PomPom Events & Marketing

As a women-led partnership International Women’s Day is important to us as we have walked a very tricky tightrope to try and succeed in all the roles we play as women.

Our mission is to be involved with projects that are changing lives, whilst living our best lives!

For PomPom we do this by… supporting businesses to engage their audiences with world-class event and communication management.

Living our best lives and achieving the ultimate goal of work-life balance has been our biggest challenge as a women-led business. This is in fact where it all started for us over an eggs beni’ birthday brunch, where we chatted about our current jobs and our desire to move into work that both positively impacted our communities, whilst allowing us to be more present in our home lives.

A mutual business contact overheard our conversation and interjected, she suggested we start a business and right there and then offered us an opportunity to pitch for one of her upcoming events, the catch being the proposal needed to be in her inbox by 9am the next morning!

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This sparked something that grew into what is now PomPom - a partnership that has flourished and is based on friendship, trust and shared worldviews.

We did pitch for that event, we did secure it and we delivered their most successful event to date and from there we decided that we wanted to use PomPom to achieve two key things: impact positive change in our communities allow us to achieve greater work life balance We have successfully achieved the first of these goals - we are now supporting some very worthy not-for-profits in the youth, environmental and business space - areas we are passionate about.

However, the second goal has been more elusive - we have struggled with the model of exchanging time for money and we have had to implement a series of initiatives since

our conception to protect our time with our families. One of these is not working on Fridays - for all PomPom team members.

We are not ashamed to admit that this is a journey we are still on, but with every new initiative we implement we move one step closer to our end goal, and it is getting tantalisingly close!

We are inspired to strive forward by women such as Jewel Kilcher - who has overcome significant life challenges and achieved great success not only in her professional life as a musician, but also in her philanthropic endeavors, whilst achieving work-life balance; eventually!

The ride that has been PomPom is a rollercoaster - but it’s one that we are proud of and one that we could only do together. So for us International Women’s Day is also a chance to recognise what as women, friends, partners and professionals we can achieve together - happy IWD ladies!

pompom.co.nz Words by Charlotte Tollervey.

cassie meredith CM Pottery I thought the creative genes had skipped me by. My dad was an artist and talented signwriter (old-school hand-painted signs - the best kind), mum was a teacher with a flair for sewing magic into everything and my siblings could turn their hand to anything from music to painting.

While my children were still little I decided to study for my legal executive diploma and headed into the corporate world.

At the time, I’d imagined it would be like what I’d seen on Ally McBeal (if you’re not familiar… this was an early 2000’s American legal comedy drama TV series). Let’s just say, things are never like they seem on TV! I fell neatly into the stereotype of a working mum of two, busily enjoying life in New Zealand with my high school sweetheart and trying to forge a career. But something was missing.

Living on the other side of the world from my family, I have learned the importance of surrounding myself with good people. I’m truly grateful for my amazing core circle of friends, including some of the most inspiring and strong women I’ve ever met. I was so inspired by all of these other local women achieving such epic things and it gave me the strength and confidence I needed to follow my own dreams.

So, I asked myself, “If you could do anything, what would it be?”. I thought about what made me happy and it took me back to my childhood, to a home full of beautiful handmade objects. My dad’s paintings, my nana Flo’s hand-stitched teddy bears and my mum’s design work were dotted all over the place. I realised I wanted to create, and pottery called my name. I quickly found a local pottery teacher and jumped into a six week course to learn the basics of wheel throwing.

I wasn’t a natural at the wheel initially, but I was one hundred percent in my element and had a vision of what it could become if I stuck at it. Before I could even throw something that resembled a cup, I could already picture my work being stocked in local shops. But what made me really fall in love with pottery was the creative process and how meditative it is. Making mistakes and learning from them is what pottery is all about and I think this has helped to keep me grounded and present in the moment. Creating is absolute soul food for me!

seeing my kids use the cups and bowls I’ve made. I hope it inspires them to explore their own creativity and chase their dreams too.

Turning a hobby into a small business is scary and challenging, but in a world full of distractions and so much pressure to follow trends, there are a million reasons to embrace and promote a creative life.

I’m not sure where this journey will take me next but I’m absolutely loving it.

cmpotterynz.com

When I launched my website in March 2021, I was blown away with the support and love for my work and I get such an enormous buzz from seeing my pieces being used! I now have some of my handmade wares in our home too and I love

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Zebunisso Alimova Mum of four, mortgage broker, bookshop owner, taekwondo extraordinaire To fully get to the bottom of what drives me and how I got here today, we need to take a trip back to my childhood.

I was raised in Tajikistan and to say this upbringing was challenging is an understatement.

I grew up during a civil war and when I was seven years old tragedy struck our family when my father passed away. It was at that point that we also lost our family home and my mum had to start again with three kids. I watched her work hard and take care of our family and I have always strived to do the same. There was no government support, like New Zealand has, and in an essence, you are on your own. But while this upbringing was tough, I wasn’t going to let it define me.

down the path toward the financial industry. I stayed working for ASB in a variety of roles, continuing to learn and grow.

A few years later, after our third baby was born, it was getting too hard to juggle work and life, with no family support and sick leave dwindling. It was time to explore other solutions so that I could work and still be a present mum of three. It was at this time that my brother came to me with an opportunity to buy his franchise, Mike Pero Wellington. Hesitant at first, I was encouraged to take a massive leap of faith, because going from a stable income to what you can earn in your own business is completely terrifying. But as you know by now, I love a challenge, so I pushed down the fear and did it anyway. And I was lucky to have some clientele follow me to my new pursuit as a mortgage adviser, having spent a few years in the financial world.

It’s hard work taking your banking hat off and putting the adviser hat on: in the bank things are black and white with a lot My wonderful mum provided me the opportunity to come to of rules. I needed to find all sorts of creative ways to help people New Zealand in Year 12 and study, which was life changing. into a home, and I quickly learned that I loved finding the right I was a 16-year-old girl who creative financial solution. didn’t speak English, finding The satisfaction comes from my way in a strange country. delivering life-changing I kept my head down and did mortgages for people. the best I could. It was too A highlight for me has also “I love a challenge, so I pushed expensive for me to stay and been receiving awards and complete Year 13. But I tried down the fear and did it anyway.” knowing that my kids are my best and got a scholarship seeing this and learning from at Palmerston North the example that I try to set International Pacific College for them. I certainly don’t and studied international regret the decision to start my own business and it has definitely relations. This seemed like a sensible path since my dreams made family life more manageable, although at times it does feel of being a model didn’t work out (maybe in another life!). like life at the bank was way easier.

I never considered myself to be “smart”, just hard working and trying to make the most of any opportunities.

While I share that it made family life more manageable, I need to point out a few things. There is no such thing as balance – But as we all know by now, nothing in life is a straight line! yes, I am around the kids more. But the sacrifice is late nights After I graduated, I tried several jobs. At first, I had a job in working to be present for the kids during the day. However, I’m photography and ran the studio. Photography is a passion for grateful I can participate in all the fun of raising four kids. Don’t me. But not long into this role the university I attended asked get me wrong, I still get the ‘mum guilt’ and worry whether I am me to join the team as an international recruitment officer. giving them enough attention while delivering quality service Helping others on the path I took to come to New Zealand for my clients. I have to remind myself that I am showing and study was very rewarding. This role involved a lot of my children the way forward and that I am around while still international travel and opportunities to see the world which working hard. was amazing but, after a few years, I have to say it became exhausting.

My number four baby arrived through lockdown in 2020, which also happened to be my busiest year in my business so far.

It was time to zigzag, and I enrolled in a counselling course at Working for myself I didn’t take any time off after Zara was born.

Massey. I wanted to help students, who I could relate to, given I just kept delivering for my clients and little Zara became the I was in their shoes once upon a time. However, this was all cutest 2IC at Mike Pero Mortgages. We made it work as a family online study (back in the day, when online studies were not a and everyone pitched in. huge thing, but just an emerging field) and I found it isolating, so I took a part time job at a bank. This part time job led me

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When I reflect on my current career, I think back to an unfulfilled childhood dream. When I was a little girl, I wanted a Barbie house (probably the dream for lots of little girls) and that was never possible with my upbringing. It seems this childhood dream has transpired into an adult collection of houses and passion for helping people get their dream home.

Being a mortgage adviser can be stressful with a lot of deadlines, approvals and people’s lives impacted by the outcome. I am constantly at the forefront of fighting fires for my clients and changes in financial regulation has made my role harder. While the role has allowed a different lifestyle, you need to be good at juggling. Even though balls drop sometimes, it turns out they bounce! So now for my next trick… I am slowly getting better at mastering the art of keeping everything in the air. As a family, we also joined Taekwondo Club, and that has been a whole new journey for us, achieving goals and pushing through physical and mental obstacles.

- nothing is permanent in life, prepare yourself and you can get through anything. We are given lessons and they either break you or make you. You have a choice to either dwell on it and become buried in self-pity, or learn from it and make a plan.

My choice? Enjoy life. It’s been quite a ride and I can’t wait to see what other great ideas come to me, because anything is possible, if you put your mind to it.

mikepero.co.nz/zebunisso-alimova thebookshelf.co.nz

In 2021 I set a goal to buy a commercial property. I’m certainly very goal driven and form a laser focus to achieving these goals.

This is when we purchased The Bookshelf in Waikanae; both the property and the business. Once again this has been a new learning curve and a change from the stress of being a mortgage adviser. The shop has become a creative outlet to try different things, see how customers respond to products and think about things differently. I’ve had fun trying to navigate a new business with limited retail experience. I hope to have my office in the shop soon and this will morph into a multi-use space for my two businesses. The lesson? If you put your mind to it, you can achieve your goals.

I’m proud to say that my family always celebrated International Women’s Day. Back home it used to be a cross between Mother’s Day and Women’s Day where women young and old were acknowledged for their unique gifts. It’s great to see New Zealand culture catching up with empowering women. The theme this year ‘Breaking the Bias’ means we shift how we think about our roles. I am fortunate that I married a man who is on the same path, and we are equal, and we don’t have gender roles in our family.

I have always worked and being independent is an important value to me. My father died so young, and my mum - my beautiful, strong, role model of a mother - was always working. Because of her I felt a need to contribute to my family financially and I suppose deep down it’s about security.

Security can come from any life pursuit - we are all unique for a reason! Whether it’s crunching numbers or flicking through a beautifully printed book, my parting reminders are

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Raechel Osborne CEO of Kāpiti Youth Support My story starts in Levin, where I was born.

I grew up and went to school in Kāpiti, and this is where I began my career as a public health nurse, working across both districts. Today I am the CEO of Kāpiti Youth Support (KYS) in Paraparaumu.

What’s happened in between - along with a wonderful marriage and two beautiful kids - is more than 30 years in the public health and social services sector, working to break the bias.

I think I was destined to serve my community. My father was the principal of Kāpiti College, my mother a local primary school teacher and my grandfather represented Ōtaki on Council for many years. But the concept of social conscience didn’t register with me until I was well into adulthood. By that time nursing had called my name, and I had responded warmly. It just felt right.

Working in public health in the early days gave me a different view of health, and a lot of the time it was confronting, and often frightening. Through home visits and school clinics I saw patients in their own spaces; their vulnerabilities and challenges on full display. I quickly figured out that ‘health’ didn’t really mean ‘medical’. It really meant holistic care.

Environment, basic needs, connection, wellbeing. It encouraged me to ask what else was going on; what was contributing to a person’s presenting issue.

I could see that some people in our community were navigating challenges that were out of their control, and more often than not it was our young people.

We started by sharing the house with an adult mental health service, which didn’t work very well because the main idea was to have a specific stand-alone service for young people. We were however fortunate within 12 months to acquire the three-roomed whare for ourselves. This gave us the opportunity to explore new ways of working - as research had indicated that the traditional, dictated approach to engaging young people, and working in silo, wasn’t effective. We wanted to do things differently, so right from the get go we were adapting and changing how we did things to meet the needs of the young people who were brave enough to walk through our door.

In some ways, not very much has changed from those early days - which is something to be both proud of and frustrated about.

Let me explain.

Over the years KYS has been operating, there hasn’t been a lot of change to the health funding we receive. Our core funding for doctors and nurses hasn’t changed in 15 years, yet the complexity and number of people accessing our services during that time has dramatically increased. In the beginning we tried accessing social services funding, but were told our service was covered by health; the funding we already received.

“Breaking the bias to me means acknowledging our own bias, being openminded and non-judgmental, and working in the grey - not in the black and white.”

I wanted to focus on that age group - 10-24 year olds - because I felt that they were a forgotten group. 75% of mental health disorders present in adolescence. I knew that these were formative, important years for a young person, and to help with whatever issues they had, it was going to be more effective and powerful to focus on the bigger picture. This idea of holistic care completely challenged the mainstream world view of healthcare at the time, but I felt so strongly about it that I wanted to take action.

Around that time the health authority of the day carried out some research to figure out why young people were not accessing traditional healthcare services. The findings from this research resulted in the introduction of the concept of youth one stop shops (YOSS) to be located in various communities around the country, which two of my nursing colleagues and I were keen to champion for Kāpiti.

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We surveyed the colleges in the district and - sure enough - got feedback from young people that they didn’t want to visit their local family GP or travel to Porirua or Wellington for healthcare - especially not for sexual health. So along with others, we submitted an application and were successful - $50,000 and space to operate from in a humble three-bedroom house at 15 Tutanekai Street, Paraparaumu. We were away, and young people began shyly coming through the door.

The reality was we were offering both health and social services to our young people, but the powers that be saw them as completely separate things. I have spent a lot of time trying to change people’s perspectives on that, which led to KYS leading a research project to show ‘How we know what we’re doing works’ which it did. That was in 2011 and to this day we are still trying to be heard and seen for what we have always known really works.

It’s quite frustrating 25 years on still feeling like we have to fight for funding. We’re not talking about lovely little things that we’re trying to get funding for - we’re talking about essential services that have the ability to change young people’s lives so that they have the best chance of contributing to society.

What I do feel proud of is that as a service, we have never lost sight of the original vision: to put the young person at the centre

of everything we do. Truly holistic care for anyone who needs it. Breaking the bias to me means acknowledging our own bias, being open-minded and non-judgmental, and working in the grey - not in the black and white. I feel immensely proud that KYS is a collective of qualified, experienced and passionate practitioners who understand this to the very core.

Instead of waiting for government agencies to direct us, we began designing our own programmes specifically for the needs of the young people who were right there in front of us. Recognising that some young people have more challenges than others, and striving to create supportive environments for them has always been our priority. We have to be really creative about how we source funding, and how we allocate it.

One of our programmes is called Project Youth, dedicated to celebrating and supporting our LGBTTQI+ community. It’s been running for many years, but we have only recently received partial funding for this, even though our community has shown us that it’s needed. We also have a programme dedicated to mentoring young parents in our community. It’s been running for 11 years, and we finally received some funding for this 18 months ago. Our He Kākāno programme is dedicated to helping rangatahi connect with their whānau, community and culture. This has been running for four years because we recognised the need, but we don’t receive any funding for this. We currently have significant numbers of young people on our waitlist for most of our social services, particularly to see our team of psychologists, mental health nurses and counsellors. These numbers continue to increase steadily.

Strangely enough, I think the bias that exists here is that from the outside KYS appears to be a large, successful non-government organisation with a fleet of vehicles, a collection of buildings, and a group of vibrant, dedicated people under our roof… so why on earth would we need more funding? Because young people are still turning up on our doorstep surviving, not thriving. That’s why.

I’ve walked many roads and tried many avenues - aligning with university research to back our practice, seeking recognition through awards to acknowledge our hard work and dedication. All of these things have been to try and break through the ceiling.

To have someone finally turn around, actually hear what we’ve been saying for 25 years, and tangibly act on it in support of the young people of Kāpiti… that’s my ultimate goal.

The network of selfless individuals involved in the past and present KYS is one this community should celebrate. It’s the mahi of those who choose to support KYS as part of their journey - not just as a job - which is the reason we’re still here supporting the young people of Kāpiti in any way we can.

I may have held the torch since the beginning, held a soft spot for young people, and been a bit bolshie at times, but at the end of the day, I’m just a woman who loves her family, her friends, and a good pair of shoes. I’ve always felt a desire to contribute to my community, and that community is Kāpiti.

KYS.co.nz

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LOUISE WATERWORTH Kāpiti Women’s Centre

lnternational Women’s Day is an important day. It’s the day we celebrate collectively the power of women on a global level. It’s the time to reflect and review where we are and dare to plan for a better future.

The person I am today, my determination to always do what’s right, and my passion for my work stem from my skills and my lived life experience. As manager of the Kāpiti Women’s Centre, I’m in the privileged position to use these to empower and support other women.

I was born in Africa. At the age of six, I immigrated to England with my extended whānau, so I have always been in a position of supporting people. When, later, I asked about using this gift in counselling training, I was told I was too young. But I didn’t want to wait until I was ‘old enough’ so I trained at King’s College London as a paediatric nurse. I stayed in nursing for 10 years.

As a young, single mother in London, I experienced family violence, and growing up in a foreign land without my family of origin was difficult. I immigrated to New Zealand in 2006, pregnant with my second child – I don’t seem to take the easy path! – and am the mother of three beautiful children aged 22, 14, and 11.

In New Zealand, I did my counselling training and am currently trained and registered. By 2015, I was working as a nurse, a counsellor in private practice, volunteering, and being a mum to three small children.

I was heading down the burnout route and needed to rethink what I was doing, and rethink it fast!

At the same time, the Kāpiti Women’s Centre, where I did my counselling placement, was looking for a new manager. The KWC was formed in 1988 by a group of wise women, to support the women of Kāpiti. The Centre runs as a collective supported by both volunteers and paid workers. Managing a centre was not in my original plan, but working in a community-based service was always where I wanted to be. I applied for the position and was the successful candidate. Within a few months, we had significantly expanded the services by taking on the Women’s Refuge contract for the Kāpiti region. I have been working at KWC as the centre manager for five years now.

There are more than 40 amazing women working at the KWC, all of different backgrounds and experiences.

The centre is for all women of Kāpiti. We are able to do the work we do because of the generous support of the community, which in turn benefits the whole community.

Ngā mihi to you all.

kapitiwomenscentre.org.nz

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“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.”

MORGAN HARPER NICHOLS

Want to share these stories with a friend?

A digital version is available at womanhoodjournal.nz Tell your story in 2023, email Anna at ACS Marketing for more information anna@acsmarketing.co.nz

This publication was produced in celebration of International Women’s Day 2022 and published by ACS Marketing Consultancy.

Featuring women in business from across Kāpiti and Horowhenua, New Zealand. This Womanhood Journal was proudly printed in Horowhenua, New Zealand by Graphic Press Ltd. Copyright is reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

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