Amplifyou

We don’t talk about this enough.

What it actually feels like to be a high-performing Pasifika leader

and still feel disconnected from your own culture.

You’re successful.
You’re leading.
You’re in rooms many never imagined for you.

But there’s a quiet tension.

You’ve learned how to show up in professional spaces

yet parts of your identity still feel underdeveloped, unexplored, or even unseen.

So you carry both.

The expectation to perform.
And the desire to reconnect.

A thought provoking reminder from Thursday’s Pineapple Pie & Networking event’s Guest Speaker:

This is not rare.
This is real.

And it’s showing up in more of our leaders than we care to admit.

In confidence.
In voice.
In how we show up
or hold back
in the rooms we’re in.

Because when identity is unclear or disconnected,

leadership becomes heavier than it needs to be.

But when identity is grounded?

Everything shifts.

You stop second-guessing.
You stop code-switching.
You stop trying to “fit” in and start leading as you are.

That’s the mahi I’m deeply passionate about.

Not just developing leaders.

But supporting Pasifika leaders to reconnect, realign, and lead from a place of truth ~ not tension.

Because when we do that,

We don’t just succeed in existing systems.

We influence them.
We reshape them.
We lead differently.

And that difference matters.

If you’re a Pasifika leader navigating this space ~ I see you.

And if you’re ready to lead with more clarity, confidence and cultural grounding ~ let’s talanoa.

There was so much wisdom in the room at the impactful panel discussion in Ōtautahi on Wednesday evening.

As an experienced board member myself (fakaaue lahi mahaki to those who’ve held the door wide open for me to come through and serve), what I was reminded of ~ and what I love coaching emerging leaders on ~ is this:

there is always something to learn, no matter what stage of your governance journey you are at.

Governance is not a quick climb.

It is a long game of courage, contribution, learning, relationships, and resilience.

A few key reminders from our wonderful panel really stayed with me:

Start where you are.

Not every governance journey begins on a large paid board. School boards, community boards, sport boards, and not-for-profit boards all build valuable experience.

Governance is different from management.

You are not there to do the work. You are there to provide oversight, ask good questions, think strategically, and help steer the waka in the right direction.

Networks matter.

So much of governance still comes through relationships, visibility, and trusted connections. Let people know you are interested. Stay in the room. Keep showing up.

Training helps, but experience matters too.

Courses and webinars are valuable, but real learning deepens when paired with lived governance experience.

Board culture matters.

It is not just about getting a seat at the table. It is also about whether your voice will be heard, respected, and valued once you are there.

Women bring important perspective.

Especially in rooms where our lived experience shapes the questions that need to be asked and the decisions that need to be made.

One insight I especially appreciated was this:

you may need to be rejected many times before the right governance opportunity opens.

That is not failure.

That is part of the journey.

Through my coaching, I see this every day with emerging leaders stepping forward, backing themselves, and growing into spaces they once questioned if they belonged in.

You do belong.

And your voice, your perspective, and your leadership matter.

Keep learning.

Keep showing up.

Keep stepping forward!

There’s something powerful about being in a room where you are not the minority.

Tuesday night’s .nz Meet The Buyer event in Ōtautahi was a reminder of what happens when Pasifika and Māori excellence is not just present…but centred.

So good to hear from a Wāhine Māori tech founder, building innovative, human-centred digital solutions from AI in aquaculture to cultural VR experiences and all grounded in purpose, people, and culture.

Not just building a business.

Building representation.

Building trust.

Building pathways where others said it couldn’t be done.

And that hit me.

Because too often, our communities are told to “fit into” systems that were never designed for us.

Yet here we are…

Designing our own.

Another powerful reminder — success doesn’t always come on the first try.

Or the second.

Sometimes it’s the third opportunity…after you’ve stayed consistent, built relationships, and kept showing up.

That’s leadership.

What stood out most?

The intentional creation of space.

A space where Māori and Pasifika businesses are seen, valued, and connected directly to opportunity.

Where procurement decisions can shift outcomes.

Where relationships turn into real contracts.

Where culture is not a barrier ~ it’s the foundation.

As someone who’s served on boards and coaches emerging leaders, I was reminded again:

There is always something to learn.

At every stage of the journey.

And our responsibility?

To not just take up space…

But to open doors wider for those coming behind us.

Be bold in the room.

Start the conversation.

Follow up.

Because the opportunity is often already there just waiting for us to claim it.

And for me…

Already taking that from insight into action.

Looking forward to a coffee talanoa already locked in with a Wāhine Māori powerhouse marketing expert ~ continuing the kōrero and exploring what’s possible.

Fa’afetai tele lava to everyone creating these spaces for our community to connect, collaborate, and cheer each other on.

This is how we shift systems.

Wednesday night was one of those leadership moments that stays with you.

I’ll be honest, waylaid by heavy traffic, I almost did a U-turn.

But I turned up. And I’m so glad I did.

Witnessing my fellow Eastside sis Maria Herbert, Principal of Te Aratai College, lead with strength, clarity and unapologetic Pasifika presence at the launch of Project K was powerful and inspiring!

This wasn’t just programme delivery.

It was trajectory shifting for young people in East Ōtautahi.

Hearing from Sir Graeme Di**le was a reminder that courageous dreaming + decisive action changes lives.

As a former Trustee on the Ōtautahi Board of the Graham Di**le Foundation, seeing impact move from governance table to school hall was a heartwarming full-circle moment.

When Pasifika women lead boldly, pathways widen.

When we align governance, school and community, young people win.

So here’s the reminder:

Show up.

Even when traffic is heavy.

Even when it’s inconvenient.

You never know what leadership moment you might witness ~ or be part of.

📣 Called up in the 11th hour to deliver a speech at last night’s Amotai networking event in Ōtautahi … and guess what? I was ready. Why? Because preparation meets opportunity.

These are the moments Amplifyou’s Speak Fearlessly 6-week online program is made for.

💥 It equips you to speak with clarity, confidence, and courage — whether you’ve had 6 weeks to prepare or just 6 minutes’ notice (like I virtually did - Kia ora Roy Tikao 😅).

Real impact happens when your voice rises in unexpected rooms. Let’s get you ready for your next moment. 🗣️✨

For a lot of my coaching clients navigating their leadership pathway,

I often encourage them to seek out a mentor they admire.

Even if they feel out of reach — courage in action will always close the gap.

Walking my talk, I met this powerhouse woman last year at the Women Leaders Summit

and told myself, next time I see her, I’ll ask.

This time, I did. And she said, “Sure, send me a message.”

Never be afraid to ask for guidance when you meet someone whose leadership inspires your own.

Your impact grows when you surround yourself with those who’ve walked paths you’re passionate about paving for others.

&CoconutCream