People often talk about leadership in terms of scale. The size of a business. The size of a transformation. The size of a mandate. But for Hannah Walton, the most meaningful measure is not scale at all. It is the human experience behind the numbers. It is how older New […]
Dawn Engelbrecht is no stranger to building scale. She grew a six-child after-school programme into 183 locations with 58 franchisees in New Zealand and branches in Australia, Canada, England, Ireland and South Africa caring for over 9,000 children a day, then brought that experience to Kitchen Studio, where she now […]
“You Win or Lose in the Second Half.” For Lisa Oakley, founder of People Associates, the second half isn’t about age or timing — it’s about renewal. It’s proof that you can rebuild, reimagine, and rise stronger from the toughest seasons. The first half might knock you down or strip […]
James Laughlin is a high performance leadership strategist and executive coach based in Christchurch. A seven time world champion musician, he coaches elite teams and senior leaders, including work with Canterbury Rugby. He hosts the Lead On Purpose podcast and translates mindset science into practical leadership tools. Ali Harper gives […]
Michelle Batchelor is the CEO of Life Plus NZ, Preston and Blythe, and Little Life, with deep experience across healthcare, staffing, and recruitment. Before the boardroom she competed internationally as Michelle “Pressure” Preston, winning multiple titles across Muay Thai and boxing. She pairs high performance habits with practical people leadership […]
Peri Drysdale is the founder of Snowy Peak and Untouched World, and the founder of the Untouched World Foundation. She built a global knitwear business from a home start, pioneered possum merino innovation, and grew a brand recognised internationally for quality and sustainability. She is a long standing advocate for […]
Ali is joined by Peri and Michelle for the panel discussion and gets straight into the takeaways. “You’ve both faced very stressful moments where it’s make or break. What’s in your toolkit that gives you the stamina to keep going?” Peri doesn’t hesitate. “For me it’s all about energy.” She […]
What is the number one hobby of the rich? Making luxurious holes in the ground in Queenstown and planning for the end of the world. Currently my own personal prepper plans involve bottles of water and a box of tinned food I already can’t stand the idea of eating. But […]
Spring’s freshest drops are centred on glow-giving rituals to heal, restore and reawaken the senses. 1. Luxe Escape In collaboration with Australian fashion label SIR., Mecca Cosmetica has launched a limited edition Facial SPF & Sarong, $130, set to take you from the beach to the bar. 2. Radiant Ritual […]
A decade ago, if you talked about sleeping in a tent, most people pictured damp scout camps, mystery stains on nylon and a deflating airbed at three in the morning. Today, the image is very different. Think fairy lights, proper beds, woven rugs underfoot and canvas walls glowing softly at […]
The Mini Cooper S Electric is a tiny car that’s a ton of fun. Not as small as the original Mini, yet just as much fun and still one of the smallest cars that you can buy. An icon of the 60s, Mini survived many changes of ownership until it […]
Some people spend years figuring out what they want to do. Not Maria Jose Alvarez. “I was one of those weird 13-year-olds who knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life,” she says. “And I’m now doing it.” Raised in a small rural town in southern Chile, Alvarez’s […]
There’s a quiet kind of power that comes with finally having something built for you. Not adapted, not borrowed, not made to fit after the fact. The RS15 Avaglide, adidas’s first rugby boot designed specifically for women, is one of those moments. Developed in collaboration with some of the world’s […]
As the CEO of Skills Group, Rosanne Graham oversees a national education provider that spans 27 industries, serves 23 thousand learners, and is reshaping itself for a future defined by both human capability and technological change and is helping create the future of industry leaders of tomorrow. In the role […]
Jodie King is the Chief People Officer at One New Zealand, and leads a team responsible for the culture, capability and performance of circa 2,500 employees, while also helping steer one of the company’s boldest ambitions to become one of the most AI-enabled telcos in the world. It is a […]
Justine Gladwell-Hunt’s career has been anything but predictable. Moving from the UK to New Zealand, taking on roles across different industries, running a marathon on a whim with barely ten weeks of training, and most recently stepping into the role of National Compliance Manager at Raine & Horne New Zealand, […]
Cynthia Hunefeld – Building Resilience Through Science, Humour and Purpose Cynthia Hunefeld, founder of Evithe Biotechnology and an award-winning scientist, has dedicated her work to creating groundbreaking plant-based treatments for inflammation. At the Journey to Excellence event, she stood before the audience and said, “I just flew back from the […]
As the final keynote wrapped, MC Mel Homer invited three of the day’s standout speakers – Dr Alia Bojilova, Naomi Ballantyne, and Danu Abeysuriya – back on stage for an open conversation. “If there’s anything you think, gosh, she’s got to ask that and she hasn’t, let me know,” Mel […]
For Hayley Dryland, timeless design isn’t just a bit of marketing buzz, it’s the foundation of every project she takes on at August & Co. She’s not interested in ripping out a bathroom because a tile has fallen out of fashion and is a hue or two out of favour […]
On November 12, 1993, an inaugural eight-person tournament with no weight class, no time limits, no judges and very few rules took place in Denver, Colorado, which would forever change the landscape of the martial arts world. It would determine the superior fighter in any and every fighting style […]
I mean, it’s a good question. This weekend, I ran a marathon. Long runs are always very intense experiences and they leave me feeling…well, a lot of stuff. While I do want to write about the experience of running a marathon (I go 42.2km so you don’t have to), I […]
BODA Chef Series Boda Restaurant, Auckland is hosting two nights of culinary excellence and cultural storytelling. For two exclusive evenings only, Executive Chef Hyokeun Choi of BODA Restaurant (Auckland) and Chef Migo Razon of Miss Mi (Melbourne) will come together to present a fusion of modern Korean and Filipino cuisine. […]
In late January of this year, billboards around America changed, almost simultaneously, to a countdown clock ticking down the day, hour, minute and seconds to a mysterious event. Possible mayhem, perhaps? Maybe to apocalypse? As time ticked on by, the aesthetics of the countdown changed too. What was going on? […]
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time? It’s important to enjoy what you do, why you do it and be generous in sharing with your teams. They’ve been recruited for a reason and so empowering each team member with enough information to understand […]
How do you define effective leadership? Effective leadership for me involves setting an example and following through in what you say you will do, providing a vision and inspiring others while always maintaining integrity. Over time, it has evolved to what is best for the business is making sure I […]
When a crisis overwhelms your business, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting further away, there is one person you can call Lisa Oakley. With more than 20 years of experience in human resources and health and safety across corporate giants like Air New […]
Patrice Green is visibly uncomfortable when asked about her latest venture. Having earmarked 2025 as her year for ‘getting comfortable with being uncomfortable’, it’s probably an expected response. But despite her visceral reaction to stepping far outside her comfort zone, Green appears to be living her rich, full life by […]
In October 2024, I took my first steps into the warm and welcoming community of Oxygen Yoga & Fitness (OYF) Remuera. These steps were particularly significant for me, as they came after five months of recovery from major foot surgery that had drastically limited my ability to run—a passion I […]
Let’s face it, our calendars are full, our inboxes are fuller, and somewhere in the blur between Zoom calls and WhatsApp pings, the concept of “working well” has quietly slipped out the back door. Enter PEPWorldwide, a global consultancy that’s been cutting through the chaos for more than three decades. […]
The Mini Cooper S Electric is a tiny car that’s a ton of fun. Not as small as the original Mini, yet just as much fun and still one of the smallest cars that you can buy. An icon of the 60s, Mini survived many changes of ownership until it […]
This is a flat-out understatement, but it is a weird time in the world. A major epicentre to this is, of course, the inauguration of President Trump in the US and the whiplash-inducing ideological pendulum swing of the tech industry. An industry with a traditional liberal bias. Apparently, though, this […]
In the two decades since she debuted her acting chops on PBS’ Barney & Friends, the amazing, brave and versatile Selena Gomez has actually tried to let go of every kind of disguise and be the same person in public and private. Even after Bloomsberg recently announced her as a […]
How is it 2025 already? Anyway, you can’t stop the march of time and aging but we can fight damn it. Luckily, the health and wellness sector is evolving at an exponential pace, driven by technological advancements, a growing focus on personalised care, an enhanced understanding of holistic well-being and […]
With over three decades of experience in sales leadership, Sita Proud knows what it takes to lead with impact. From building high-performing teams to navigating uncertainty with resilience, she’s mastered the art of balancing authority with inclusivity. How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over […]
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time? I believe effective leadership is about fostering rapid, transformative, and sustainable growth – both personally and professionally – by creating an environment where people feel valued, connected and challenged. My definition of effective leadership has definitely […]
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time? I believe strong leaders foster a culture of excellence, bring grit and unwavering determination and get everyone swimming in the same direction. You’ve got to be outwardly focused so putting the team and organisation above yourself. […]
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time? Having a clear view of where we are going and being able to communicate that in a way that brings your teams onboard too. I think it’s important to lead by example and demonstrate the behavior […]
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time? Over time I have developed a strong belief that leadership is about trust, and about creating space and opportunities so people can unlock their full potential. As a leader, my role isn’t telling people how to […]
How do you define effective leadership, and how has your definition evolved over time? My understanding of leadership has evolved through a few pivotal moments in my career. One of the most transformative experiences was working under a leader who profoundly shaped my growth and confidence and taught me what great […]
By its nature, recruitment is one of those industries that is constantly dynamic, nuanced, multifaceted, and connected to the success of a wider economy. At Dynamix Recruitment, two women – Lisa Bennett, the Managing Director, and Renee Sharp, the Finance Director, are leading the way with a combined expertise that […]
Feminine Aura A pocket perfume to take with you everywhere, Abel Minis, EDP, 6ml, $55, are available in their eight best-selling fragrances – my pick is Black Anise for a smoky amber with a hint of blackcurrant. Sexy and alluring, Michael Kors Pour Femme, EDP, 50ml, $182; is a timeless […]
M2woman had the opportunity to sit down with Olivia (Liv) Mackay to learn about her passion for sailing and the ability to operate at the top of the world. Liv is the strategist for SailGP team Black Foils, and we interviewed her just six days after the team cleaned up […]
Mariele Klering never imagined she would get into Jiu-Jitsu. A few years ago, the thought of stepping onto the mats—let alone thriving in a sport she once dismissed as “too masculine”—would’ve seemed laughable to her. But life, as it so often does, had a way of surprising her. After spending […]
As I look at my 18 year old daughter readying herself to leave home and head off to university – pushing past her fears and ready to pursue her dreams, I have reflected on my own current levels of courage. How often am I ready to step outside my comfort […]
“In those moments when we don’t think we’re smart enough or pretty enough, or skinny enough or successful enough, or basically just not enough. I had a woman say to me, ‘Just know, you will never be enough. But you can know the value of your worth if you just […]
Today I had a near-death experience. One of those ones you read about in books, where your whole life flashes before your eyes in the space of about 1.5 seconds and you realise how uninteresting you really are. What was the cause this near fatal event? Exercise. I’ve been told […]
M2woman had the opportunity to sit down with Olivia (Liv) to learn about her passion for sailing and the ability to operate at the top of the world. Liv is the strategist for SailGP team Black Foils, and we interviewed her just six days after the team cleaned up the […]
Photography Tamara West Chelsea Winter is no stranger to transformation — in life and in food. With the release of her seventh cookbook, Tasty, the MasterChef winner has ushered in a new personal chapter, filled with lessons learned, flavours rediscovered, and a heartfelt return to balance. Winter’s Tasty isn’t just […]
The media exploded when a paper declared that low serotonin doesn’t cause depression— something many scientists had been saying for years. Confusion over the neurotransmitter caused some patients to question effective treatment, exposing an information gap it’s been hard to bridge. We can do better, and here’s how. For decades […]
