Growing Kiwis with Claire Williamson

Claire Williamson
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Careers

The Growing Kiwis is a podcast for ambitious people who are committed to growth in business, money, health, mindset, and life. The podcast explores what it really looks like to pursue a high-performance life in New Zealand. The wins, the challenges, the lessons, and the consistent actions that compound over time. Growth is the central theme, whether that’s growing businesses, investments, people, community, impact, or ourselves.

  1. 18h ago

    The spark to people's rockets: Grant Johnson on optimism, service and putting people first

    Episode summary Grant Johnson is the co founder and CEO of Rocketspark, the website platform built in Cambridge that now powers thousands of businesses in New Zealand and around the world. In this yarn Claire and Grant trace the whole journey, from packing shoes at Reebok and ski bumming in Canada to starting a software company from a spare room in Spain with $5,000 from each of four founders. They get into people first as a genuine operating model, the shift from founder to CEO, why service and community matter more than ever in the age of AI, and Grant's belief that you can build something world class from the green valleys of the Waikato. Warm, humble and full of hard won wisdom. In this episode - How four mates bootstrapped a global software company on $5,000 each - Why Rocketspark's founding strengths still hold 18 years on - How their real values came from the team, not a poster on the wall - Why the design partner community became the heart of the business - What the shift from founder to CEO actually taught Grant - Why service based businesses will matter more in the age of AI - How to get found by AI without gaming the system - Grant's secret sauce, and a wedding vow worth stealing Chapters Timestamps are based on the raw recording, nudge them once the intro is trimmed in the edit. - 00:00 Welcome, and a few sliding doors moments - 00:58 Who is Grant Johnson - 01:17 From Ngaruawahia to accounting, marketing and Vodafone - 03:04 Ski bums, London and a satellite TV startup - 04:53 Spain, the America's Cup, and lacking purpose - 05:57 The idea for Rocketspark - 08:00 Getting off the ground on $5,000 each - 08:20 The founding strengths, confirmed 18 years later - 10:08 The values exercise, and what the team said - 14:26 The design partner story - 17:37 Building community for one person businesses - 20:43 Backing a designer to charge her worth - 22:36 Four founders, trust and complementary skills - 25:40 Founder to CEO: leading by creating clarity - 31:03 Bootstrapping, financial buffers and tough conversations - 36:00 Career pathways, and the cherry on top - 39:12 Young people, universities and productivity - 44:57 Why service matters more in the age of AI - 50:02 Getting found by AI, and playing the long game - 54:19 Advice for starting and showing up online - 58:48 Grant's secret sauce: optimism and authenticity - 01:02:01 A life well lived: everyone wins - 01:04:37 Relationships, and best times always together - 01:11:15 Productivity, building, and telling the stories About Grant Grant Johnson is the co founder and CEO of Rocketspark, a website platform he started in 2008 with his brother Jeremy and two mates, each putting in $5,000. Raised in Ngaruawahia as the son of a truckie, he studied accounting and marketing, worked at Trutest, Vodafone and a London startup, and dreamed up Rocketspark from a spare room in Spain. Eighteen years on, the four founders are still together, the company is a people first, community driven business used by thousands worldwide, and Grant is on a mission to show that you can build something world class from the green valleys of the Waikato. He lives in Cambridge with his wife Andrea. Links - Rocketspark: Website - Rocketspark on Instagram: Rocketsparkwebsites

  2. Sep 2

    Courage, Community & The Outdoors with Izzy Zitzelberger

    Episode OverviewIn this episode, we sit down with Isabelle "Izzy" Zitzelberger, the driving force behind Wild Chix—a New Zealand business empowering women to build confidence and independence in hunting, fishing, boating, and diving. Izzy shares her journey from moving to NZ from Germany to overcoming breast cancer, taking the leap out of a secure corporate role in the marine industry, and fostering a supportive, judgment-free community for women across Aotearoa. Key TakeawaysEmpowerment Through Skill Building: Wild Chix focuses on foundational outdoor skills—boat handling, trailer backing, firearm safety, navigation, and butchery—so women can enjoy the outdoors without depending on anyone else.Psychological Safety Matters: Creating a warm, non-judgmental "big sister" environment allows women to embrace being beginners and push past fear.The Entrepreneurial Leap: Moving from a secure job into full-time business requires embracing uncertainty, building operational frameworks (SOPs, compliance, health & safety), and taking small, consistent daily steps.Resilience Through Adversity: Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis at age 31 reinforced Izzy's drive to embrace positivity, stop delaying goals, and live life without hesitation. Highlights – Lifelong learning & personal growth philosophy. – Moving to New Zealand, living in an Auckland treehouse, and getting into land-based fishing. – Identifying the industry gap in marine sales and local hunting clubs. – What Wild Chix actually does: teaching ethics, safety, wind reading, and butchery. – The importance of emotional safety vs. physical safety gear on the water. – Taking the leap into full-time business, handling fear, and navigating compliance. – Industry recognition, seat on the Safer Boating Forum, and visiting the Beehive. – Mindset, choices, and everyday happiness ("If you're not changing, you're choosing"). – Overcoming breast cancer, hiking Lake Waikaremoana during treatment, and letting go of judgment. – Launching the nationwide Wild Chix digital community platform. Notable Quotes"For me, fishing and catching are two different things. You need to learn how to fish to catch, and you need to learn how to hunt to actually shoot an animal. We teach the whole process.""Allow yourself to be a beginner. Don't be perfect, because no one is. Step out of your comfort zone, achieve it, and build on those skills with amazing women cheering you on.""If you stay in your comfort zone, nothing will change. When you feel uncomfortable because you pushed yourself—that is where you grow."Links & ResourcesWild Chix Website: wildchix.co.nzInstagram: @wildchicks_nzFacebook: Wild Chicks NZ

  3. Aug 26

    Small, Local & Mighty: Carrie Andrews of Wholly Cow

    What happens when you stop worrying about having the perfect plan and simply stay curious? In this episode of the Growing Kiwis Podcast, Claire sits down with Carrie Andrews — farmer, business owner, creative, mum and the woman behind Wholly Cow, for a conversation about building a life and business around curiosity, community and simply giving things a good crack. Carrie and her husband Tom started Wholly Cow almost 18 years ago as a way to help pay the mortgage. What began as a family farm and farmers' market venture has grown into a local, closed-loop food business with its own micro abattoir, butchery, team and focus on keeping skills, employment and food production close to home. But Carrie's story doesn't stop at farming. From studying craft and ceramics, to raising four children, building businesses, creating collectives and now experimenting with traditional leather tanning, Carrie has always followed her curiosity — often without knowing exactly where it will lead. In this episode, we talk about: Building a business from the simple question: “How are we going to pay the mortgage?”The journey from farmers' markets to building Wholly CowWhy local food, food security and small businesses matterCreating a strong team culture through kindness, food and connectionRaising children around business and giving them the confidence to find their own pathWhy Carrie believes in “small but mighty”Her love of making, tinkering and learning new skillsThe story behind Flock Tannery and her journey into traditional leather makingWhy preserving old skills and knowledge mattersLearning to embrace failure and keep goingThe importance of curiosity and not needing to have a five-year planBuilding a life around family, partnership, purpose and communityWhy nature continues to be one of Carrie's biggest sources of inspirationAnd her simple philosophy: keep it simple, keep it real, care genuinely and give things a go. Carrie's “special sauce”? Giving things a go, having a good crack and not being afraid to fail. This is such a beautiful reminder that you don't have to have everything figured out. Sometimes the best businesses, ideas and adventures come from simply being open to what's next. A very Kiwi story about farming, family, business, creativity and making your own path.

  4. Aug 19

    People, Coffee & Purpose: Tayler Paterson on building Homebrew

    Episode summaryTayler Paterson is the co-owner of Homebrew Coffee, a Waikato coffee business that has grown from a $204 first day in Cambridge into six locations and a team of 25. Tayler and her husband Blair set out to build something they genuinely loved, with a big goal of five locations in five years — and plenty of lessons learned along the way. In this episode, Tayler opens up about what it really takes to grow a business, the sacrifices that come with building something from scratch, and why genuine relationships have been at the heart of Homebrew's success. We talk leadership, team culture, marriage, raising a young family, community and the reality of trying to find "work-life balance." Honest, funny and full of heart, this is a conversation about building a business that reflects who you are — and creating something that gives back to the people around you. In this episode• How Homebrew Coffee started and the journey from a $204 first day to six Waikato locations • Why Tayler and Blair set themselves the goal of five locations in five years • How relationships and unexpected opportunities helped Homebrew find new locations • Why Tayler believes genuine relationships are more valuable than transactional networking • Building a team around culture, character and the right "vibes" • Why leading by example is one of the most powerful tools in leadership • How Homebrew looks after and rewards its team • The influence of Tayler's upbringing and the work ethic she learned from her mum • The realities of building a business while raising young children • Why Tayler doesn't necessarily believe in traditional "work-life balance" • How Tayler and Blair have built a business that can work around their family • The importance of knowing your own strengths and finding people who complement them • Why Tayler believes you should do something you genuinely love ChaptersTimestamps are based on the raw recording, nudge them once the intro is trimmed in the edit. • 00:00 Welcome and getting to know Tayler • 12:44 From $204 on day one to six Homebrew locations • 14:05 How the second Homebrew location came about • 28:05 Building a business while raising a family • 29:13 The sacrifices that come with building a business • 31:25 Is work-life balance actually possible? • 34:29 Growing up in the States and the lessons Tayler took from her childhood • 39:19 Why being yourself is part of Homebrew's success • 40:23 Tayler's approach to leadership • 41:09 Leading by example and putting your money where your mouth is • 42:10 Building a team and rewarding people properly • 43:34 Tayler's hot take on networking groups • 44:37 Building genuine connections and community • 53:55 Tayler's final thoughts on life, business and family • 54:22 Why you should do what you love About TaylerTayler Paterson is the co-owner of Homebrew Coffee, a growing Waikato coffee business she runs alongside her husband Blair. Together they have built Homebrew from its first Cambridge location into six locations across the Waikato. Tayler is passionate about people, relationships, community and creating a workplace where her team genuinely enjoys coming to work. Her approach to leadership is deeply personal — she believes in leading by example, looking after people properly and staying true to who you are. Alongside building Homebrew, Tayler and Blair are raising their young family and have deliberately built their business around the things that matter most to them. LinksHomebrew Coffee Website

  5. Aug 12

    Built for more: Nate Alley on Business, Family & Life

    Episode summary Nate Alley is the owner of Sentinel Homes Waikato, Business & Leadership Coach at Roar Coaching, and a dad to two young girls, Hayden and Carter. From a childhood spent figuring things out without a father figure to building a successful construction business and bringing long-term team members into equity ownership, Nate’s path has been fueled by drive, grit, and a constant pursuit of self-improvement. Recorded over an open-ended conversation about what it means to lead, this episode covers the realities of managing people, why Feedback is a gift, how perspective changes everything when business gets tough, and the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones. Honest, grounded, and packed with practical wisdom for anyone growing a business, a team, or themselves. In this episode • Who Nate Alley is today: balancing fatherhood, running Sentinel Homes Waikato, and stepping into coaching • Core values built from childhood: Manaaki (respect), Tupu (growth), Mahi (effort), Whānau (family), and adventure • Developing deep gratitude and perspective, and why "pressure is a privilege" in business and life • The ongoing apprenticeship of leadership and learning how to lead people as individuals • The 4 A’s feedback framework from No Rules Rules: Aim to assist, Actionable, Acknowledge, Accept or decline • Bringing business partner Ash and her husband Grub into 40% shareholding and why sharing ownership grows the whole pie • Judging ourselves on intent vs. judging others on behavior, and using empathy to navigate hard conversations • Showing up for his daughters and why his own upbringing makes him place top priority on fatherhood • The "Lads and Dads" community: finding psychological safety and deep connections with fellow business owners • "Do hard things": pushing past modern comfort crises, embracing Misogis, and reframing tough times as "happening FOR me, not TO me" • The role of coaching and self-awareness as the ultimate unlock for personal performance Chapters • 00:00 Welcome to the Growing Kiwis podcast • 00:54 Who is Nate Alley today? Fatherhood, Sentinel Homes, and Coaching • 02:17 Nate's values: Manaaki, Tupu, Mahi, Whānau, and Adventure • 05:22 Perspective, gratitude, and top 5% living • 09:44 Early business mistakes, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and learning by doing • 14:04 The hard work of leadership and managing different personalities • 18:39 The 4 A’s feedback model in action • 26:44 Business partnership: Ash's journey from admin to 40% shareholder & director • 33:02 Intent vs. behavior and self-awareness through hardship • 38:06 Being the father he didn't have growing up • 46:00 Friendships, and the Lads & Dads group • 52:56 Relationships, growth, and lessons from divorce • 58:31 Chasing peace and contentment by leaving it all out there • 01:00:42 Comfort Crisis, housing affordability, and doing hard things • 01:07:03 "Happening for me, not to me" mindset in business • 01:11:22 Secret sauce: Caring deeply about what matters • 01:13:34 Self-awareness, and the power of coaching • 01:20:18 Decision making, values, and needing a "chunky" goal About Nate Nate Alley is the owner of Sentinel Homes Waikato, and a father to two young daughters, Hayden and Carter. Starting out as a young entrepreneur, Nate has spent over 11 years growing Sentinel Homes while continuously sharpening his leadership, culture-building, and business skills. Passionate about outdoor adventure, continuous growth (Tupu), and helping others level up through self-awareness, Nate uses his experiences across business, parenting, and endurance challenges to inspire others to throw their bag over the fence and get after it. Links Sentinel Homes Waikato website Roar Coaching Enjoyed this episode? If this one resonated, follow Growing Kiwis wherever you listen, and share it with someone who is building something of their own. We would love to hear your biggest takeaway, so come and say hi over on Instagram!

  6. Aug 5

    More than numbers: Abbey Boobyer on marquees, motherhood & building her own business

    Abbey Boobyer is the founder of Prosper Business, a Cambridge-based accounting practice built around small business owners who want more than tax returns. Before Prosper, Abbey and her husband Rich spent seven years building Love Club Hire, a furniture and marquee hire business they started on their wedding day and sold when the season was right. Recorded with Abbey's newborn daughter Billy making herself known in the background, this episode covers what it really takes to leave a salary and start your own thing, why the best accounting advice is actually people advice, and how building a strong network of women in business changed everything. Honest, funny and full of practical wisdom for anyone who has ever wondered if they could actually do this. In this episodeWhy Abbey always knew she would run her own business, even when she was doing someone else's accountingHow Love Club Hire started with furniture they bought for their own wedding and grew into a marquee businessThe decision to sell after seven years and how they got so lucky with the buyerWhat it really means to be a not-typical accountant, and the three values Prosper is built onWhy the most successful small business owners she works with are not working less, they are working smarterThe five professional relationships every new business owner should have from day oneHow she started a girls breakfast group seven years ago and why community is the key to confidenceBeing in a hectic season with a newborn and a growing practice, and giving herself permission not to be perfect ChaptersTimestamps are based on the raw recording, nudge them once the intro is trimmed in the edit. 00:12 Welcome Abbey and Billy,01:23 Who is Abbey the human02:37 The business career that was always heading somewhere04:30 Starting Love Club Hire at their own wedding08:26 Growing the marquee business and knowing when to niche13:00 How they sold Love Club and got lucky with the buyer15:10 What makes Prosper different from a typical accountant17:30 The types of clients Abbey works with and a case study on cashflow22:00 Small business in New Zealand and why a good network matters24:40 The five professionals every new business owner needs28:00 Mindset, self belief and what she learned from her parents33:00 Girls breakfast, Prosper Connect and building community deliberately36:00 Personal hacks and giving yourself permission for off days38:00 Secret sauce: the accountant who actually wants you to win About AbbeyAbbey Boobyer is the founder of Prosper Business, a Xero-based accounting practice in Cambridge focused on small business owners across New Zealand. She trained as a chartered accountant through Deloitte before moving into smaller practices and eventually starting her own firm. Alongside her accounting career, she and her husband Rich co-founded Love Club Hire, a furniture and marquee hire business they grew over seven years before selling. Abbey is mum and is passionate about building community and confidence among women in business. LinksProsper Business website Prosper Business on Instagram

  7. Jul 29

    Happy Law: building a law firm that puts people first with Sam Douglas

    Sam Douglas is a director of Foley Douglas, a Hamilton law firm he co-founded with Aasha Foley in 2017, before rebranding in 2025. Sam is a property law specialist accredited by the New Zealand Law Society and a general practitioner who describes himself as the family GP of the legal world, dealing with what most people actually need and sending them to a specialist when they do not. With a team of around 25, Foley Douglas is one of the younger, more deliberately human law firms in Waikato, built around plain language, flexibility and a belief that law does not have to be adversarial. This is a calm, thoughtful conversation about building a business the way you want it to run, being present for your family, running your own race and why the best outcome is usually the one where everyone gets what they actually need. In this episodeHow Sam ended up a lawyer after swearing he never would be, watching his dad practise family and mental health law in TaurangaChasing his wife around the country through Auckland and Hamilton, and why Hamilton stopped feeling temporaryCo-founding what is now Foley Douglas in 2017 and building it to 25 peopleThe philosophy behind happy law, plain language and a firm that is not adversarial by defaultWhy Foley Douglas encourages its team to build their own profiles and career identities, not just bill hoursThe flexible approach to hours that means boxing training at 9am or the school pickup at 3pm are both fineWhat it looks like to be the youngest in a family and grow up with more freedom and more trustHis conservative view on risk and why he would rather drive a boring car than carry a big oneRunning your own race: why some of what looks like success from the outside is not actually realProblems are just problems and they can usually be fixed ChaptersTimestamps are based on the raw recording, nudge them once the intro is trimmed in the edit. 00:02 Welcome, Sam's background and the Foley Douglas team01:49 What Sam actually does, the family GP of the law world03:17 Happy law and the career journey from Tauranga to Hamilton05:08 Acting for people across their whole lives, why that matters06:37 Fundamental beliefs about business and what Foley Douglas is built on08:22 Habits and non-negotiables, out by five, there by three09:53 How they give their team the same flexibility they have themselves11:43 The youngest child upbringing, freedom, trust and chasing your wife across the country14:36 What values look like in practice at Foley Douglas17:21 Why plain language and being genuinely human is not a nice to have, it is the strategy18:01 Juggling two big careers and making sure weekends stay for the family19:31 Parenting thoughts, nobody has all the answers and that is okay22:26 The secret sauce, communication and figuring out what someone actually needs24:18 How Sam handles challenge, the problem-solving mindset from his first boss27:12 Building a phone-a-friend network and why being generous with your time comes back29:06 Ambition, making money and being honest about risk tolerance31:36 Running your own race, the danger of chasing projected success About SamSam Douglas is a director of Foley Douglas, a Hamilton law firm he co-founded with Aasha Foley in 2017, before rebranding in 2025. He is accredited as a property law specialist by the New Zealand Law Society and is a general practitioner across property, commercial contracts, trusts, estate planning and more. He has been a lawyer for around 19 years, having worked in Tauranga, Auckland and Hamilton. Sam's wife Emily is a marine scientist and they have three kids aged nine, six and four. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Knighton Normal School and is an avid runner. LinksFoley Douglas website Foley Douglas on Instagram

  8. Jul 22

    Unapologetically me: Cherie Osbaldiston on backing yourself and building a business on your own terms

    Cherie Osbaldiston is the founder of Pulse Property Management, a boutique property management agency covering Matamata, South Waikato, Te Aroha and the surrounding provincial areas. After 15 years working her way from receptionist to general manager at a Hamilton firm, Cherie left to start her own business in a town where nobody knew her, with nothing but 17 years of experience and an absolute refusal to be anyone other than herself. She is now an award winner, a sought-after industry speaker and an unapologetic advocate for both landlords and tenants in a market that needs more of both. This episode is a straight-talking, deeply honest conversation about building a reputation from scratch, knowing your values before you start, and the controversial opinion that work-life balance is rubbish. In this episodeWhy Cherie fell into property management on her first day at work and never leftThe decision to leave a GM role after 15 years and start from scratch in MatamataHow she built Pulse Property Management around a model that is deliberately differentWhat she actually wrote down before she took her first client onWhy people do not leave businesses, they leave leaders, and what she learned from becoming oneThe truth about property management, tenants, landlords and a market that is getting harderHer take on pets, big family homes, subdivisions and where smart investors should be lookingWhy she keeps showing up to every conference she can find before the speakers are even announcedBacking yourself when you have very little self-confidence and a lot of experience ChaptersTimestamps are based on the raw recording, nudge them once the intro is trimmed in the edit. 00:06 Welcome and introduction01:12 Who is Cherie the human, values, family and the Waikato03:28 Finding your authentic self, the journey to knowing who you are05:00 Conference addict, networking and showing up before you know the speakers06:13 Falling into property management and why she stayed08:26 Working up through the ranks to general manager09:36 The hamster wheel, the decision to leave and what came next10:14 The first steps in starting Pulse, writing down what she wanted it to look like13:05 Leadership, the people do not leave businesses they leave leaders principle16:00 Growing up in Cambridge, horses, her dad and the work ethic that stuck18:37 The little Cherie who never thought she would run an award winning company20:09 Backing yourself when you have no self-confidence20:22 The conference speaking gig, fear versus opportunity23:22 What property management actually involves, legislation and the reality28:00 Myths about tenants and landlords, the symbiotic relationship30:00 Pet legislation, housing stock and why landlords are leaving the market37:45 The granny flat rules and multi-generational living39:11 What is being overlooked by investors, provinces and subdivisions44:08 Her EDD list, non-negotiables and the controversial work-life balance opinion46:01 Just do it now, treating people with kindness and controversial opinions51:12 Technology and AI in property management, why she is deliberately old school53:03 Final message, back yourself, build your reputation, talk to people About CherieCherie Osbaldiston is the founder of Pulse Property Management, covering Matamata, South Waikato, Te Aroha and surrounding areas. She has 17 years of experience in property management, having risen from receptionist to general manager at a Hamilton firm before founding Pulse two years ago. She holds a Level 4 Property Management Qualification, is a REINZ accredited Property Manager, and serves as a National Residential Property Management Ambassador for the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. She has received multiple individual industry awards and was named Inspiration of the Year at the Property Management Conference New Zealand. Cherie grew up in Cambridge in a family involved in thoroughbred horse racing and is a married mother of two young children. LinksPulse Property Management website Pulse Property Management on Instagram

See All (28)

About

The Growing Kiwis is a podcast for ambitious people who are committed to growth in business, money, health, mindset, and life. The podcast explores what it really looks like to pursue a high-performance life in New Zealand. The wins, the challenges, the lessons, and the consistent actions that compound over time. Growth is the central theme, whether that’s growing businesses, investments, people, community, impact, or ourselves.

Information

You Might Also Like