I’ve just returned from a New Zealand history tour I’ve been wanting to do for nearly 15 years. I still can’t quite believe it took me until my late 40s to finally visit Waitangi. To stand where early settlers arrived. To learn more deeply about the resilience, wisdom and whakapapa of Māori. To better understand the Treaty of Waitangi and its ongoing significance in shaping who we are as a country. It was an extraordinary trip. A whistle-stop 5-day trip. We ate at the awa

The past couple of weeks have stretched me in ways I didn’t quite expect. If you’ve been in my world for a while, you’ll know I’m generally someone who can hold a lot — family, work, clients, commitments — and keep moving forward with a fairly steady rhythm. But recently, life handed me a cluster of big, beautiful, meaningful things all at once… and the emotional hangover caught up with me. A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated my eldest daughter’s 21st. It was a huge out-of-

When I ask my clients to do  informational interviews , many of them look at me like I’ve just suggested skydiving without a parachute. They freeze. They say things like: “I don’t want to bother people.” “Why would they talk to me?” “I don’t have anything valuable to offer.” “Who the hell am I to ask?” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. So many smart, capable women tell me they feel  uncomfortable  reaching out - as if asking someone for a chat is imposing, awkward, or needy.