For too long, financial products have been built by and for those already inside the system, leaving many excluded by complexity, assumptions, and one-size-fits-none thinking.

Could dignity be the missing ingredient that unlocks both trust and innovation?

The government's rush to dismantle New Zealand's pay equity framework last week wasn't just pushed through under urgency; there is broad sentiment that it was pushed through to make the budget look better.

The government claims the rushed changes to the Pay Equity Act will save “billions”, but this completely misses the bigger economic picture.

Gutting our pay equity laws isn't a triumph of fiscal responsibility; it's a budget allocation trick creating market distortions that businesses will ultimately pay for.

Do we have the courage to lead when human sense and business sense face formidable opposition?

Two years ago, I shared this Harvard Business Review article and research showing the financial consequences of politically-motivated business restrictions. Reading it again over the weekend, I was struck by how the warning is even more pertinent today than it was then.

When confronted with business partners or providers engaged in unethical practices or poor conduct, the first instinct might be to consider blacklisting. But what about the alternative? What happens when we choose to maintain our seat at the table specifically to challenge misconduct and drive substantial reform from within?

This week I am reflecting on a proverb that has shaped my understanding of leadership development: "Smooth seas don't train great sailors."

Looking back on my career, the periods of greatest growth weren't during comfortable, predictable times. They came when navigating choppy waters, making difficult decisions with incomplete information or imperfect context, and steering through unexpected storms.

A work acquaintance said this to me recently. After joking that having four tweens and teenagers gives me plenty of practice, I paused to consider what I actually do when team members come to me with concerns or frustrations during our one-to-one meetings.