In this special episode of Tech Waka, we honour International Women's Day by spotlighting the incredible achievements of female leaders in New Zealand's technology scene.

This episode introduces our March theme, where we will present engaging interviews and insightful discussions, we will explore the crucial role women tech leaders play in driving diversity, innovation, and growth within the tech industry.

Tune in to be inspired and to celebrate the women leading change in New Zealand's digital landscape.

In this episode of the TechWaka podcast, we welcome Colin Bowern, Senior Vice President of Product at Octopus Deploy, to share his vast experiences and insights from the tech industry.

Colin delves into the complexities and challenges of leadership in technology, emphasizing the importance of making decisions with incomplete information and navigating the imperfect trade-offs that businesses must confront. Reflecting on his diverse career, Colin highlights the value of collecting experiences rather than climbing the corporate ladder and the significance of flexibility and adaptability in professional growth.

Colin also discusses the dynamic collaboration within product teams, advocating for a collective ownership model that transcends traditional roles to achieve outstanding outcomes.

This episode of the TechWaka podcast features the journey of Anna Cupples, Head of Engineering at Trade Me and an accomplished triathlete.

The conversation covers the importance of flexibility and resilience in engineering delivery, the value of diverse teams in technology development, and leadership roles that don't necessarily involve managing people.

Anna shares her journey from being a spectator at her father's triathlons to competing in Ironman races and how the lessons learned from triathlon, such as discipline, goal-setting, and enjoying the process, apply to her tech leadership role. She emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech, sharing insights from her experience at Trade Me.

In episode #2 of the TechWaka podcast, we welcome Gareth Cronin, a legend in New Zealand's technology scene. Gareth, known for his role in growing and innovating tech companies such as Xero, Ambit, and more, shares his journey and insights into the future of technology in New Zealand and beyond.

The conversation delves into various topics, including the importance of collaboration across business, product, and technology domains, the risks and strategies of software development, and the critical role of product marketing and data in shaping product success.

Gareth also discusses his experiences with inflection points in business growth, emphasizing the need for adaptability and strategic change management to navigate these challenges successfully.

This episode offers valuable perspectives on technology leadership, the evolving tech landscape, and the intersection of business strategy and technology innovation.

To learn more about Gareth, visit his website: https://www.cronin.nz/

This is us launching the Tech Waka Podcast, where we explore the journeys of New Zealand Tech Leaders.

In this episode, we dive into the why behind the podcast, the hopes and fears, and what you can expect.

Join our waka! ⛵️