Minority Makers

In our season finale, we sit down with Matilda Lee, pastry chef and founder of the beloved New Zealand bakery, Butter Baby. Matilda shares her journey of building a business inspired by the flavours of her Kiwi-Singaporean upbringing, and how her passion for community and connection drives everything she creates. Her warmth shines through as she talks about her team, her collaborators, and the family who has supported her along the way.Tune in for a wholesome, candid episode as Matilda opens up about the challenges she’s faced and the experiences that have shaped her path to where she is today.

Website: https://butterbaby.co.nz/

Instagram & Tiktok @butterbabynz

In this episode, I sit down with Ghazaleh Pakdel—Belonging & Growth Manager, nonprofit founder, and advocate for refugee empowerment. We talk about her journey from growing up in Iran and navigating life as a refugee, to leading inclusion efforts in corporate spaces. Ghazaleh shares how lived experience, empathy, and intentional strategy can drive real change in workplaces and communities.

In this episode, we sit down with Taz Machra, founder and director of Swolefoods. Taz opens up about his incredible journey, from growing up in India with no clear direction, to being in a position where he's built a thriving health food brand known for its macro-friendly meals and protein-packed ice creams, now stocked in major supermarkets & service stations. He shares not just the highs of entrepreneurial success, but also the personal challenges and losses that shaped him along the way. It's an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, purpose, and the mindset needed to turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Website: http://www.swolefoods.co.nz/

Instagram: @Swolefoodsnz & @eatswolecakes

In this episode, we sit down with Maggie Maximiano, the founder of Maxy's Cupcakes: a side-hustle cakery with a heart. What makes Maxy's Cupcakes truly special isn’t just the sweet treats, but the mission behind them: Maggie donates 5% of all profits to Starship Hospital.

Before launching her cupcake venture, Maggie started a charity called The Sharing Hope Project, which provided a transparent way for people to donate tangible goods to families in need across Auckland. Tune in to hear her inspiring journey of mixing purpose with passion, and how small acts of kindness can make a big impact.

In this episode we speak to Jesse Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of VAKA (and AKI)! Jesse tells us about his fascinating entrepreneurial journey, from dropping out of university and a successful first venture, to pivoting during COVID and building VAKA—an educational company empowering young people with 3D printing innovation. He shares invaluable insights and advice for budding entrepreneurs.

Links to his businesses below:

http://www.vaka.co.nz

http://www.akistore.co.nz

In this episode, Dr. Itsuki Mueller shares her inspiring journey to becoming a veterinarian — from her childhood on a rice farm on the outskirts of Osaka, to emigrating to New Zealand, earning a PhD in Veterinary Anatomy, and becoming a mother along the way. It was her drive to solve a key challenge for her clients — and her willingness to invest in herself — that ultimately transformed her into a businesswoman and her own boss.

You can find her businesses in the links below:

https://novavets.co.nz/

https://www.sonovet.co.nz/

In this episode, we sit down with Lian Kairua — a proud māmā of three, registered nurse, community nurse prescriber, Clinical Director of Whare Tiaki Hauora, and Co-Director of Te Korowai o Ngā Ringa Āwhina. Lian shares the pivotal moment that inspired her journey into nursing, and how, in her early 30s and pregnant with her third child, she made the bold decision to return to university. Her story is one of resilience, purpose, and unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes — especially for Māori, who continue to be overrepresented in negative health statistics.

In this episode we sit down with Naeema Nilufa, an artist who sells her paintings online and hosts paint-and-chai workshops across Auckland. In addition, she serves as a community engagement coordinator for the National Bowel Screening Programme. Naeema opens up about how her upbringing has shaped her, inspiring her to create a life that reflects the values instilled in her from a young age. Tune in for an inspiring and insightful look into her journey.

Naeema’s Website

Naeema’s Instagram

Naeema’s TikTok

In this episode we sit down with Mike, a son of refugees, husband, father and co-director of MK Financial Solutions. He offers a candid look at the perks of being your own boss, as well as the challenges of managing a business built on trust and word-of-mouth as its primary marketing strategy. He also reflects on his journey from a teenager with no clear direction, to someone who kept pushing forward, opening doors that led to new opportunities, ultimately guiding him to where he is today.

In this episode we speak with Simone, an inspiring single māmā who is doing it all. By day, she's a legal executive, and by night, she runs a custom cake business from home. We dive into her journey of building her business, and discuss how internalised racism and inherited disadvantage— experiences so deeply ingrained, she never had the words to fully describe them—have driven her to overcome challenges and motivated her to succeed.