Journalist, Editor, Broadcaster at RNZ Radio New Zealand.

Who or what did you want to be when you grew up?

A princess, a ballerina, a teacher, a reporter. Now, I want to be interesting.

What is your professional background?

I have a Master’s in political science, I worked in call centres, as one of those people who ask for your money for charities while you walk down Lambton Quay to get your lunch, and you avoid by pretending you’re on your phone. Then I decided I didn’t want to be a policy analyst, so I went back to school and learned how to talk on the radio. And shorthand, which is tremendously useful.

When do you feel the most creative or inspired?

When I am surrounded by women.

When are you happiest?

See above.

What’s the best stress relief advice you’ve ever been given?

Turn the music up as loud as you can handle.

What is your most treasured possession?

Can I have two? The garnet ring of my grandmother’s that I wear every day, and the Complete Works of William Shakespeare left to me by my other grandmother.

What is the most important thing life has taught you thus far?

That no one else is thinking about you as much as you think they are.

What is your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in your industry?

Take every opportunity you’re given, and try to have fun with it. Be courageous, but also compassionate.

What is your big project or goal for 2018?

I am going to tell the very inspiring story of my best friend, who was a gestational surrogate in 2017.

Who or what is inspiring you at the moment?

See above. But also the incredible women I work with. And Beyoncé, obvs.

What do you continually ask yourself?

Is this good enough? Am I going to be worried about this in 2 weeks? Am I talking really loud?

Who do you collaborate with best?

People who don’t mind that I think out loud and ask a lot of questions.

Who has challenged you to be better than you once were?

My current boss. My mum. My colleagues. The audience.

How does courage manifest in your work?

I had to think really hard about this. For a lot of people, doing what I do a lot of the time – getting in front of a microphone and talking to an audience – is terrifying, and people often say it’s brave. But to me, it doesn’t feel scary. Sure, it’s nerve-wracking, and there’s a bunch of adrenalin that comes with it, but it has never been something that required courage.

A few years ago, I wrote about my mental health. That one took quite some courage, so now, I think a lot more about the courage of the people who share their stories with me. I’ve had women talk to me about their mental health, sexual and family violence, workplace harassment, body image and all manner of things, and I carry those stories with me everywhere I go.

And of course, like so many of us, I have a stonking case of Imposter Syndrome, so some days, it’s an act of courage to walk into a meeting.

When has mentorship played a role in your life?

I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with some amazing women and managers. But I’ve also been a mentor, and found that I probably got more out of it than my mentee did. That’s how it’s meant to work, right?