Kia ora e te whānau,
After a much needed six month break, I am back and refreshed, recharged, and realigned with where I am heading in life and business.
As a proud Māori woman and emerging business leader, I carry my culture into every part of my journey, from the way I lead, to how I learn, to how I show up in business and life.
This time last year, I was deep in hustle mode. I was juggling multiple projects, trying to build something meaningful, and honestly… just trying to make it all work with limited business knowledge and a whole lot of heart.
My humble beginnings of launching into business, was with good intentions and big energy, but I quickly realised I had:
✔️ Gaps in my knowledge
✔️ No real systems in place
✔️ A burning desire to succeed quickly
✔️ And zero time for reflection
✔️ No real systems in place
✔️ A burning desire to succeed quickly
✔️ And zero time for reflection
I thought I could wing it through sheer passion, but passion without structure only got me so far. So, I made the decision to park my business temporarily.
I stepped away from business to focus on self-care, reconnect with my wairua, and figure out what my next chapter needed to look like, not just for success, but for sustainability.
I took on full-time work, reassessed my priorities, and committed to levelling up the right way, through study, structure, and strategy.
Let me be real, I have always been someone who believes in learning by doing. But I also realised there is power in learning the right way to do things. The kind of learning that gives you confidence, clarity, and a method to the madness.
I thought about all the podcasts I have listened to, all the networking events I have attended and the common theme was?
🌀 Those who succeeded had systems.
🌀 They had structure.
🌀 They had a clear way of doing things.
🌀 They had structure.
🌀 They had a clear way of doing things.
When I think about the McDonald’s business model they use, ingredients rarely change, but the system behind it creates consistency and success. That is when it clicked,
I did not need to reinvent the wheel — I just needed to build better ones.
I did not need to reinvent the wheel — I just needed to build better ones.
I enrolled in a Certificate IV in Business and Entrepreneurship in July 2024 and completed it in January 2025 — ten self-paced units, fully funded through C3G.
Currently in progress I have enrolled in Certificate IV in Training and Assessment through CQ University via the Higher Level Skills (HLS) grant. This qualification allows me to train and assess in my industry, perfectly aligning with one of my visions of becoming a Māori Business Coach.
Twelve months later, I can say this with full confidence, I have grown heaps.
✨ My mindset is sharper
✨ My confidence is grounded
✨ My focus is clear
✨ My confidence is grounded
✨ My focus is clear
I have stopped working for the hustle and started building with intention. I am now in my creative development phase again, using my leadership experience, cultural knowledge, and qualifications to create new content in business, leadership, and training.
After completing my TAE, I will be exploring further study, possibly a diploma in leadership or psychology. I have not locked it in yet, but I am open to wherever the next step leads. For now, I am showing up, sharing my story, and embracing the journey with open arms and a full heart.
My role as a Māori leader is not just about business, but to build my legacy, staying true to my kaupapa and helping wāhine like me step into their own space of power, purpose, and potential.
Arohanui,
Wai x
Wai x
Are you feeling inspired or walking a similar path?
Let’s connect! I would love to hear your story and share this space with like-minded wāhine.
Let’s connect! I would love to hear your story and share this space with like-minded wāhine.
