In 2026, I will have been self-employed for a decade—a looming milestone that feels both significant and surreal. The next 18 months will be a time of evolution, where I take stock of the journey so far and shape the next phase of my career.
But today, on International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on the views and stories shared by Carolyn Steele and Jackie Lloyd at yesterday’s Institute of Directors breakfast in Auckland. I’m also reflecting on why I started this journey in the first place and how it connects to something bigger than me.
When I first stepped into self-employment, it wasn’t because I had a grand vision of entrepreneurship. It was because meaningful, flexible, part-time HR work was hard to come by. I knew I had skills to offer, but the opportunities didn’t fit. So, like many women navigating work and life, I had to create my own path.
And as my business grew, I knew I wanted to do more than build something for myself. I wanted to create opportunities for others—especially women—who needed flexible, meaningful work that fits around their lives, not the other way around.
Fun fact: The human resources (HR) profession in New Zealand is predominantly female.
diversityworksnz.org.nz
According to the 2021 New Zealand Workplace Diversity Survey, more than three-quarters (77.9%) of respondents identified as female, while 20% identified as male.
This trend is also reflected in leadership roles within HR; HRNZ research in 2021 indicated that women comprise 75% of Heads of HR in NZX50 companies. (hrnz.org.nz)
This data underscores the significant representation of women in the HR field across various levels in New Zealand.
Too often, women face barriers to career progression, not because of a lack of talent or ambition, but because workplaces still struggle to embrace flexibility and have career progression opportunities that truly support them. Whether it’s caring responsibilities, life changes, or simply wanting a more sustainable work-life balance, women deserve opportunities to thrive on their own terms—not just in leadership, but in all aspects of work.
That’s why, as I move into this next phase of my business, my focus remains the same: encouraging leaders to create environments where meaningful and adaptable career opportunities are available to everyone. By doing so, we not only empower women and those in need of greater equity in their employment, but we also drive innovation and inclusivity within our organisations and communities.
Strategy, Execution, and Reading the Play
With those reflections in mind, a recent comment someone made stuck with me—they pointed out my strength in factoring details into strategy and execution. It’s true: I don’t just see the big picture; I understand how the moving parts connect to make things happen. But as I reflected on that, I realised this skill isn’t new.
It’s the same strength I relied on as an athlete. I could anticipate the next move, read the netball court or rugby field and position myself where I needed to be. That ability to scan, analyse, and act with precision—it’s the same approach I take to HR and business strategy today.
This makes me wonder: how often do our strengths today connect back to those defining moments in our younger years?
Were you the child who built contraptions in the garage, already thinking like an engineer or builder? The musician who could instinctively hear the harmony before playing a note? The athlete who could see the game unfold before it happened?
Women have always been strong, capable, and innovative. The question isn’t whether we have what it takes—it’s whether we’re given the space and encouragement to use it.
Looking Ahead
So, as I step into this next phase, I’m bringing this mindset with me. Evolution doesn’t mean changing who we are—it means refining our strengths and using them more intentionally. The next 18 months will be about making sure the work I do continues to align with my vision and the impact I want to make at all levels of organisations.
And just as I created an opportunity for myself, I’ll keep encouraging leaders to create opportunities for others.
- Because meaningful work shouldn’t be hard to find.
- Because flexibility shouldn’t be an exception but the norm.
- Because when everyone is given the chance to work in a way that suits their lives, businesses and communities benefit.
This International Women’s Day, I encourage you to reflect before you act:
- What strengths have been with you all along?
- How can they guide you forward?
- And how can we take action by working together to ensure the next generation of women and minority leaders don’t have to fight for opportunities—we just create them?
Sometimes, the best way to evolve is to reconnect with what has always made us strong. And women—we have always been strong.
