Aotearoa Enterprising Women Series | Summary for weeks 1-7

𝐀𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐚 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝟏-𝟕

So much to reflect on and learn from! For the past seven weeks I have been sharing insights from women who are part of our entrepreneurial ecosystem. Every so often I will be pausing to reflect on some of the learnings and insights that have been shared. 

𝟏. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲: Sophie Bradly & Rewa Willis

Both Sophie and Rewa prove that readiness is a myth. Sophie’s advice to “start small, but start” echoes Rewa’s experience launching Sherson Willis while caring for young children. Entrepreneurship rarely begins with perfect timing; it needs courage and adaptability. Waiting for certainty can stall progress, so trust your instincts and take action even when the path feels unclear. These women show that taking the first steps, even if you aren’t fully prepared, often shapes the journey more than any plan. Embrace imperfection and learning as you go.

𝟐. 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞: Kushla Okano & Torisse Laulu

Kushla commitment to kaitiakitanga  and Torisse’s mantra that “authenticity is the best gift you can give the world” highlight a powerful truth: purpose and authenticity underpin resilience. Kushla’s deep connection to whenua and wai attracted collaborators to Biokū Technologies, while Torisse is building Lalaga (https://lalaga.co/) by staying true to her values. Authenticity isn’t just personal it’s strategic. It builds trust, inspires teams, and differentiates a brand. When values drive actions, a business becomes more than a venture; it can become a movement. For these women purpose and authenticity are not optional: it is part of their competitive edge.

𝟑. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: – Rewa Willis & Darsel Keane

Rewa emphasizes that trust at the highest levels comes from clear, calm, and honest communication. Similarly, Darsel champions curiosity and community as foundations for confidence. For women entrepreneurs, this means listening carefully, speaking with integrity, and aligning on what matters most. Whether you’re pitching investors or leading a team, transparency and emotional intelligence are non-negotiable. These women remind us that relationships, not just transactions, drive success. When people trust your judgment and respect your authenticity, they’ll back your vision even in uncertain times.

4. 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Torisse Laulu & Bex Gidall

Torisse’s journey with Lalaga and Bex’s insights from Icehouse Ventures underscore two essentials: adaptability and mentorship. Torisse faced funding hurdles and knowledge gaps but overcame them by seeking guidance and staying solution-focused. Bex highlights that great founders combine vision with self-awareness and a willingness to learn. For women entrepreneurs, this means embracing change and building a strong support network early. Mentors provide perspective and connections; adaptability ensures you still move forward when plans falter. Together, these transform setbacks into stepping stones.

5. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Zarina 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫

Zarina’s experience with Neocrete reinforces that vision alone isn’t enough: execution matters. Her financial literacy enabled accurate forecasting and resource allocation, critical for survival in early-stage ventures. For female founders, mastering financial fundamentals is empowering: it helps you negotiate confidently, manage risk, and make informed decisions. Pair this with decisive action: ideas without execution are just dreams. Zarina’s mantra, “Vision without execution is hallucination,” is a powerful reminder that success lies in doing, not just planning. Invest in your financial skills. They are as vital as innovation  and passion.

𝟔. 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Kushla Okano & Sophie Bradly

Kushla’s burning passion for environmental regeneration and Sophie’s drive to empower young girls illustrate that passion is the engine of entrepreneurship. It sustains you through uncertainty and inspires others to join your mission. For women founders, passion isn’t just emotional, it’s practical. It attracts mentors, investors, and collaborators who believe in the vision. When challenges arise, and they will for sure, passion keeps you moving forward. As Kushla says, trust wairua to guide you; as Sophie advises, start small but start. Passion and persistence will carry you further than talent alone.

𝟕. 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Darsel Keane & Bex Gidall

In an ever changing world, Darsel advises entrepreneurs to stay endlessly curious, while Bex urges founders to focus on problems, not just ideas. Curiosity sparks innovation and positions you to lead change rather than chase it. Engage with new ideas, experiment, and (my favourite!) embrace lifelong learning. Technology and sustainability are reshaping industries: those who adapt will thrive. The most future-ready entrepreneurs aren’t those with all the answers, they are  those asking the right questions and staying open to transformation.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: which of the 7 ‘takeaways’ resonate for you right now?

– 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲

– 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞

– 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

– 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

– 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

– 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

– 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬