How ancestral wisdom guides me.

This weekend marked Matariki, the Māori New Year. It’s a time to honour those who have passed, reflect on our journey, and set intentions for what lies ahead.

It's also my grandfather's birthday.

Robert McVea Douglas is a big figure in my life and a key member of what I call my Internal Board of Directors, alongside my children and thinkers like Clayton Christensen.

I'm not talking about your company's board. I mean the people you mentally consult before making big decisions, the ones whose values and wisdom shape your compass, even if they're no longer here.

Do you have one of these?

My grandfather sits prominently on my Internal Board of Directors. A man who was raised in difficult circumstances, taken into foster care, and never learnt to write or read at school, but taught me more about quiet strength and dignity than any leadership book ever could. It may be many years since he departed, but the thought of his Douglas Frown is still enough to make stop in my tracks.

Before big decisions, I imagine sitting across from him and my other ‘directors’. What would they think of this choice? Would they nod in quiet support, or challenge me to explain myself? Would my choice give my children a lesson worth watching or would that famous Douglas Frown furrow his brow?

Matariki reminds us that honouring the past isn't about living in it, it's about letting ancestral wisdom guide our future choices.

Who sits on your internal board? And as we set intentions for this new year, what would they say about the leader you're becoming?