IN THE BEGINNING…

Back in 2009, I started running leadership, management, and team training in New Zealand. At the time, opportunities for first-level managers and supervisors in the South Island were few and far between. I saw a gap – and I wanted to fill it. I began by partnering with The Chambers of Commerce, Regional Business Support Agencies, and working directly within organizations, helping leaders build confidence and capability.

Building My Reputation

From the start, I believed in hard work, straight-up delivery, and always giving more than expected. Word spread. The programmes I developed quickly stood out because they were practical, research-based, and delivered real results. But I never wanted to stand still. I kept digging into the latest thinking, global best practice, and neuroscience to ensure that what I was offering wasn’t just good – it was world-class.

Seeing the Shift

As the years went on, something started to change. What once felt like exciting opportunities for leaders was turning into stress, overwhelm, and constant fire-fighting. Workplaces were becoming more complex, rules tighter, and people more exhausted. Leaders began telling me they were stretched thin, struggling to keep good staff, and constantly putting out conflicts. I started to feel like an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

Asking the Bigger Questions

I dug deeper. Research confirmed what I was seeing: workloads climbing, stress rising, and people blurring the lines more between work and life. Purpose, connection, and meaning became more important than ever – especially after Covid. And in almost every workshop or coaching session, my counselling skills were being called on.

Finding the Answers

At the same time, neuroscience was showing us something extraordinary: the brain can change. We can build new pathways, grow resilience, and learn emotional intelligence skills that make life – at work and at home – not just survivable, but deeply rewarding. That’s when I stopped being the ambulance. My work became proactive, equipping leaders and teams with tools that change the way they think, connect, and perform.

Today

Since then, my Emotionally Intelligent and Strengths-Based Programmes have grown in demand across NZ. They’re not fluffy add-ons – they’re the foundation of thriving workplaces and meaningful leadership. In 2018, I partnered with Skills Converge in the UK, bringing their future-focused programmes to New Zealand – the same ones used by organisations like Adidas, BMW, and the NSW Police Force.

And today, I’m still doing what I love: helping people navigate change, lead with courage, and create workplaces (and lives) where people don’t just cope – they flourish.