The SME Stream

How do organisations successfully transform while bringing their people with them?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Bernadette Kelly, Chief People, Corporate & Operations Officer at TVNZ, to explore organisational transformation, leadership, change management, and the evolving role of People & Culture.

Drawing on her experience leading large-scale transformation across one of New Zealand's most recognised media organisations, Bernadette shares practical insights into building change capability, supporting leaders, communicating through uncertainty, and helping people adapt in an environment of constant disruption.

From digital transformation and organisational change to AI, trust, leadership, and workforce capability, this conversation explores what it really takes to create meaningful, sustainable change.

What You'll Learn

• Why successful transformation starts with people, not technology

• The importance of dedicated change management and communication capability

• How leaders can build trust during periods of uncertainty

• Why organisational change should happen with people, not to them

• How to communicate effectively throughout large-scale transformation

• The leadership skills needed to navigate continuous change

• Why AI should enhance human capability, not replace it

Key Takeaways

• Organisational transformation succeeds when people understand the purpose behind the change

• Trust, transparency, and communication are the foundations of successful change management

• Leaders need support too, especially when navigating uncertainty

• Technology enables transformation, but people determine its success

• Building change capability is a strategic investment, not an afterthought

About Bernadette Kelly

Bernadette Kelly is Chief People, Corporate & Operations Officer at TVNZ, where she leads People & Culture, Legal, Corporate Affairs, Health & Safety, and Operational Services. She has extensive experience leading large-scale organisational transformation, developing leadership capability, and helping organisations navigate change while balancing commercial performance with people outcomes.

Why This Episode Matters

As organisations face accelerating technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and increasing business disruption, leaders need practical strategies to help their people adapt with confidence. This episode offers valuable insights for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners looking to lead organisational change, strengthen leadership capability, and build resilient, future-ready workplaces.

Resources

Connect with Bernadette Kelly on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadette-kellynz/

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New Zealand’s startup scene loves a good success story, but few have moved as fast – or gone as deep – as Wellington energy software venture Factor.

In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, I talk to Factor co‑founder Jessica Venning‑Bryan to she and co-founder Simon Pohlen assembled a team with serious domain expertise, built a specialised energy pricing platform, landed major customers offshore, and sold to NZX‑listed utility software company Gentrack in barely two years.

The exit, announced in May, was valued at $24.9 million with a $10 million earn-out tied to hitting $17 million in annual recurring revenue within three years. Gentrack funded the acquisition out of its cash reserves.

Venning‑Bryan doesn’t sugar‑coat the journey. She talks candidly about the “fastest and longest” two years of her career – the tension between capital efficiency and ambition, the stress of fundraising, and the constant questioning of whether the team was moving fast enough or in the right direction. 

If you’ve ever wondered what startup life really feels like beyond the glossy pitch decks, this conversation delivers the unvarnished reality.

Deep domain experience pays off

What makes Factor’s story compelling is how textbook “problem–founder fit” looks in practice. After a decade inside the energy sector at Flick Electric and Flux Federation, Venning‑Bryan and Pohlen knew, in forensic detail, the headaches utilities face trying to price complex commercial and industrial energy contracts. 

Instead of accepting that clunky, generic enterprise software was as good as it gets, they built a true SaaS product – APIs for everything, rapid deployment, and integration into the messy legacy systems that dominate energy, banking and healthcare.

The episode also digs into how Factor uses AI, including time‑series LLMs like Amazon’s Chronos.

What this episode reinforces is that deep domain knowledge can be the most powerful startup advantage you have. It also reveals why API‑first SaaS remains a winning strategy in conservative, regulated industries, and how to think critically about AI’s role in high‑stakes forecasting and pricing. 

Most importantly, Venning‑Bryan’s story is a nudge to anyone sitting inside an industry, staring at a persistent pain point: if you understand it better than anyone, why not be the one to fix it?

Tune in to The Business of Tech this week to hear how Factor went from energy headaches to a $35 million exit – and what that playbook might mean for your own next move. Streaming on iHeartRadio, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Unemployment has risen again – and it’s worse than everyone expected. 

Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate increased to 5.6 percent in the June quarter. 

That's up from 5.4 percent in the March quarter and it's slighter higher than most economists were predicting. 

So, what does that mean? Should we panic? Or is this just part and parcel of an economy in recovery? 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann is with us to break down the numbers and what it means for our future.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

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Unemployment's reached the highest level in 11 years.  

Stats NZ data shows the rate reached 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in the March quarter.  

Of the 166 thousand unemployed in this year's second quarter, almost a-fifth had been without work for more than a year.  

Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham some economists think the rate won't fall again any time soon.  

He says some predict it'll increase to 5.7% and hang around at high levels into next year.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

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The Prime Minister ponders meat and massages, a recovering economy, and whether peace in the Middle East is a pipedream or in the pipeline.

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After a difficult period last month, US equity markets appear to be on the up.

The prospect of a new Iran deal appears to have inspired some hope as well, with fuel prices dropping down again.

Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further.

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The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has commissioned an investigation into workplace conduct and culture at the Financial Markets Authority.

The ministry, which is tasked with monitoring the financial market regulator, has appointed Kirsty McDonald KC to lead the investigation.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained further.

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An economist believes the number of unemployed Kiwis might be close to peaking.

The rate reached an 11-year high in the June quarter, on 5.6 percent - up from 5.4.

Many say uncertainty fuelled by the Iran war is discouraging employers from taking on staff.

Westpac Senior Economist Michael Gordon says the labour market could be nearing its weakest point.

"We were starting to see some momentum picking up in the economy late last year to early this year. Unfortunately, we've had this interruption from the Middle East conflict. Had that not happened, we might be seeing a bit more momentum." 

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Could more babies be the answer to New Zealand’s economic problems?

Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker unpack Winston Peters’ proposed $45,000 Kiwi Kids Grant, ask whether cash can really lift the birth rate, and look at why migration may still be the more realistic path to growth. Plus, why Christchurch and the regions are outperforming Auckland—and whether rising building consents offer a glimmer of hope.

The Economy of Everything is brought to you by CMC Markets

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The Prime Minister is in damage control mode after telling struggling business owners in Rotorua to “be adult”. 

Christopher Luxon made the remarks at a business event, and they’ve sparked a fierce backlash. 

He’s since had to apologise after being labelled out of touch and patronising. 

So, is this a gaffe that’ll keep haunting him, or just a bad week in a challenging political environment? And what does it say about how the Government sees its role in supporting or stepping back from struggling businesses? 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Chief Political Reporter Jamie Ensor joins us to break down how National’s caucus is reacting, and what next. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.