In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with business owner and powerhouse leader Chantelle Good to explore a journey of resilience, growth, and self-discovery.

From growing up on a rural farm deep in the King Country to building a successful virtual assistant and bookkeeping business, Chantelle shares how early independence, problem-solving, and a passion for learning shaped her life and career.

One of the biggest things I love about Chantelle is her unwavering belief in herself, her resilience and ability to step fully into a challenge, her learner’s mindset and the way she leans fully into life.

She takes us through her health challenges, including dialysis and a life-changing kidney transplant, and how these experiences have built her empathy, confidence, and leadership style.

We explore some raw relationship moments, her journey in leading her team with clarity and vulnerability, and what authenticity really looks like.

For anyone building or scaling a business, struggling with adversity or wanting to dive deeper into values and daily habits, Chantelle’s story is packed with golden nuggets!

Varntige

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, Olympic gold medalist and business owner Shaun Kirkham takes us inside one of the most powerful comeback stories in New Zealand sport.

From a fiery, ambitious kid in Hamilton to standing on the Olympic podium in Tokyo, Shaun’s journey is packed with grit, growth, and game-changing mindset shifts.

This isn’t just about winning gold, it’s about what it takes to rebuild when things aren’t working, to lean into hard conversations, and to create unstoppable momentum through the smallest daily actions.

It’s high performance, some very real chat, and the kind of perspective that makes you want to lift your standards immediately.

If you’re chasing growth, needing to pivot and do things differently or looking to rebuild momentum, this episode is for you.

Shaun’s journey is a reminder that no matter where you are right now, you’re one decision, one mindset shift, or one small action away from changing everything.

In this episode of the Growing Kiwis Podcast, we chat with Ruth Gilmour, founder and Creative Director of Gilmour Studios, about living and working intentionally.

Ruth shares her journey from teaching photography to running a thriving studio in Hamilton, NZ, and how she aligns her business with her family values. We explore how she balances work, family, and wellbeing, the evolution of her studio into a collaborative space, and the role of habits and systems in creating consistency and reducing decision fatigue.

Ruth also discusses the importance of community, collaboration, and empathy in business, reframing challenges as opportunities, and how her energy and approach differentiate her service. This conversation is packed with inspiration and practical insights for anyone looking to live more intentionally, build meaningful habits, and create a business that reflects their values.

Gilmour Studios

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Sam Ashton, a former police officer who has reinvented himself as a successful property developer.

Sam shares his journey from niche side hustles to finding his true passion in property.

He opens up about the challenges of his first big development, the lessons learned from managing multiple moving parts, and the importance of surrounding himself with the right people.

Sam talks honestly about mindset, persistence, taking risks, and continuously learning from every experience.

Packed with humor, authenticity, and practical insights, this episode is full of inspiration for anyone ready to take action and create the life they want, in any industry

Ashton Projects - Facebook

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we sit down with Hannah Porter, , founder of Bear & Moo, to talk about how a maternity leave side hustle turned into a thriving e-commerce business. What began as a simple idea at home has grown over the past seven years into a well-known baby and parenting brand, with a growing team, a warehouse, and a retail store.

Hannah shares the real story behind building a product-based business, including the challenges of manufacturing overseas, managing inventory and stock forecasting, and making big decisions about what products to bring to market. She also opens up about some of the harder lessons along the way, from bad product calls to hiring too early, and how those experiences helped shape the business she runs today.

We also dive into what it’s like running a business with your partner, balancing family life with entrepreneurship, and learning to step into leadership as the business grows. Hannah talks honestly about the mindset shifts that come with moving from a side hustle to a fully-fledged business and the importance of trusting your instincts as a founder.

A huge part of Bear & Moo’s success has been the strong community built around the brand. Hannah explains why authenticity matters more than polished marketing, how staying relatable has helped create loyal customers, and why connection is still one of the most powerful tools for growing a brand in today’s digital world.

This conversation is packed with honest insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and what it really takes to build a business that people genuinely connect with.

Bear and Moo - Website

In this episode of Growing Kiwis, we chat with Dom Vettise, one of NZ sport’s hidden gems, supporting many of our leading athletes behind the scenes.

He’s lead sport psychologist for the NZOC, NZ Football, NZ Rugby and more, and occupied some of sport’s leading psych roles at a relatively young age which has brought tons of excitement, challenge and opportunity.

He’s also a devoted Dad and champion of courage, and while he began by studying medicine, quickly realized his heart lay in psychology and understanding what makes people tick and how to help them thrive.

Dom has worked with a huge range of people across industries, and every experience has shaped his unique approach to leadership. He shares the lessons he’s learned from the mentors who inspired him, and how those lessons now guide the way he leads, supports, and develops his sports teams.

We also chat through his approach to being a dad, changing the way he shows up and providing fresh perspective on fostering courage, nurturing future leaders, and creating teams that genuinely flourish.

There’s some real gold here in Dom’s practical frameworks, honesty and authenticity and examples from his own journey around showing up with his own values and connecting with people in a different way.

Packed with insights, stories, and practical takeaways, this episode will leave you energized, motivated, and ready to step up in your own life, no excuses.

Vettise Psychology - Website