Networking – where do you begin? How do you build genuine, meaningful connections? What makes an authentic networking conversation truly powerful? How can strategic networking transform your professional journey? Miranda shares how everyone can connect with anyone. 

Miranda Knapton is a professional networker. Her networking journey began over eight years ago when she first joined BNI (Business Network International) as a chapter member in Christchurch. Today, she’s president of BNI New Zealand. For her, networking has changed her life, not just because of the deals she’s been able to close for her business but also because of the lifelong connections she’s built. 

In this episode, we cover Miranda’s networking journey, why building relationships is the basis of effective networking, tips for introverts, common pitfalls, and more.  

LINKS 

https://bni.co.nz/en-NZ/index  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/⁠ 

Sometimes, the hardest part about starting a business is determining your brand strategy. What should you name your business? What is the story you’re trying to communicate? Who are you trying to communicate with? And what should your business look like? We let the expert answer. 

Tim Dove is the Strategic Director of Re:brand, an award-winning, evidence-led brand agency operating in both Auckland and Wellington. With a background in design and marketing, he and his team use their specialised knowledge to help businesses define their brand and message through facts rather than opinions. 

In this episode, he shares what a brand strategy is (and what it’s not), what a good brand strategy can do for your business, and what happens when your business doesn’t have a clear brand... 

LINKS 

https://rebrand.co.nz/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/ 

How do you know when someone is stealing from your business? How do you deal with it? And what do you do when you realise your employee has stolen over $195,000 from your business? This is Sam’s story.  

In September 2009, musician and entrepreneur Sam Martin founded Firat Point Electrical. Starting out as a one-man band, Sam built his business from the ground up with his friendly service and expert knowledge of the electrical trade. Today, he’s backed by a strong, knowledgeable team of licensed electricians servicing the Greater Auckland region.  

Like all business owners, Sam has had some remarkable high points: clocking over $1 million in revenue, building a great team, and hosting some awesome work Christmas parties. But every successful business doesn’t come without some battle scars... 

LINKS 

https://www.firstpoint.co.nz/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/  

What happens when a successful electrical business suddenly stops making money? How do you survive when your workload doesn't translate to profits? Matt and Shamus share their story. 

Shamus O’Donnell gave life to No Shock electrical after a couple of drinks and a chat with a friend. Years later, he’s brought on co-owner Matt and built a successful trades business. But this story doesn’t come without its challenges. 

In this episode, we talk navigating team redundancies, the journey from employee to owner, mental health in the trades and more. This is a must-listen for anyone facing challenges with employee productivity or dreaming of building a successful trades business. 

LINKS 

https://www.noshock.co.nz/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/  

Holding yourself back from business opportunities because of self-limiting beliefs? Avoiding networking events because you struggle with public speaking? Hesitant to show off the real you? The Confidence Queen is here to help. 

Speaker, MC, TV presenter, educator, storyteller, and coach – Monique has done it all. Born into a family of loud, theatrical, Radio and TV family, it’s no surprise that she has went on to have an incredibly successful, creative, and diverse career. But her story didn’t come without struggle. Bullied at a young age, Monique had to overcome immense struggles, but her love for storytelling conquered all. 

Now, she lives to help others become the confident leaders and communicators they were born to be.  

In this episode of the Boxers and Briefs podcast, Monique opens up about her personal journey, teaches us the techniques and strategies she uses to build confidence and show up as her most authentic self, and offers some words of wisdom to business owners. 

LINKS 

https://moniquebradley.tv/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/ 

We all know about AI, but what does it bring to the table? How can it benefit businesses? How can businesses improve their services while protecting their systems? AI and cybersecurity expert, Claude Chiorean, reveals all. 

Claude is the managing director and head of cybersecurity at WE AS WEB, an international software services firm. He’s a senior security and AI consultant as well as a data security specialist. What does that translate to? He’s your go-to guy when it comes to understanding AI and how to protect your business from digital attacks. 

And in this episode of the Boxers and Briefs podcast he answers the question we’re all dying to know about: what does AI offer and what does it mean for the future of business?  

LINKS 

https://weasweb.com/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/  

Struggling to overcome stress and imposter syndrome as a business owner? Feeling uninspired or unmotivated? Wondering how to stay true to your passion while growing your business? Loren Tomlinson speaks from experience. 

Marketing is more than just a job for Loren. Starting off as freelancer, Loren built up her skills and clients to create The Social Collective, a digital marketing agency that is focused on helping women-owned businesses thrive in the digital space. Now three years into her business, Loren is proud of how far she has come, but this journey wasn’t without its challenges. How did she make it this far? Passion and resilience. 

In this episode of the Boxers and Briefs podcast, Loren talks about learning how to navigate being a boss, shares her strategies for managing stress and imposter syndrome, and offers some honest advice about being an entrepreneur that every business owner should hear. 

LINKS 
https://www.thesocialcollective.co.nz/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/ 

How do you turn a passion into a successful startup? What does it take to launch a fashion brand with no industry experience? And when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, how do you keep pushing forward? Georgia Patten shares her journey. 

Georgia Patten is the designer and director of bored.george, a disruptor in the sunglasses industry. At twenty-three, she turned a passion project into a thriving business, armed with nothing but an unrelenting thirst for knowledge and a commitment to perfecting the art of sunglass design. She’s won and been nominated for multiple awards, and her 'fearless frames' are stocked in stores across New Zealand and Australia. But when you ask her what she does for work, she’ll most likely respond with ‘I put out fires.’ 

In this episode of the Boxers and Briefs podcast, we have a candid conversation with Georgia about the realities of being a business owner—the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

LINKS 
https://boredgeorge.com/  

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/  

Have you ever wondered how Google Ads could help you grow your business, but you're not sure how they work or where to start? We’ve got you covered. 

In this episode, we sit down with Google Ads expert Leighton Wilson to unpack what Google Ads are, explain how they work, debate whether they’re a long- or short-term marketing strategy, and reveal how they can help you achieve your business goals. 

Leighton Wilson is the Founder and Managing Director of Ladder and Co, a Digital Ads studio that specialises in creating value-based ads to help you achieve your business goals. They offer search engine advertising, Facebook advertising, remarketing, Google shopping, video advertising, and lead tracking and reporting services.  

LINKS 

https://ladderco.co.nz/   

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/  

This week on the Boxers and Briefs podcast we decided to switch things up a bit. In this episode, we are once again joined by professional speaker and Master Storyteller, John Maybury, only this time he’s helping run the show, while we put our very own Lisa Garrud in the hot seat. 

Representing Gilligan Sheppard’s very own marketing team, better known as MasterJack, Lisa spills all our content marketing secrets. We cover when and where you should be sharing content, how to create content that’s valuable and engaging, and why content marketing is the key to attracting leads and building lasting relationships with your current clients. 

MasterJack is a division of Gilligan Sheppard, who specialise in creating content that gets you and your clients excited about your business. They pride themselves on speaking in a language you can understand (they’re not fans of jargon). But most importantly, they’re here to help you not only build your business, but make it thrive! 

LINKS 

https://www.masterjackmarketing.co.nz 

https://gilligansheppard.co.nz/