5 inspiring wāhine Māori business owners you need to know about
Deearn Strawbridge
Owner and photographer at DB Strawbridge
"My passion is classic fine art portraiture. To me, photographic portraits are a beautiful and important part of the legacy of our lives. This is why I create the portraits I do for my clients.
There is a tradition of portraiture that I believe should be preserved. One in which celebrates life, your life! A celebration of pride in who we are, where we have come from and where we are going. The generations that follow us will see it exactly that way, but it is up to us to decide to be a part of that history.
I am so thankful that I get to create beautiful Fine Art Portraits for extraordinary people, that will be cherished for many generations"
Melanie Medland
Founder of Beautiful Conversations
"I'm a communication coach who works with parents of rangatahi and employers of rangatahi to strengthen their communication processes and develop robust and nurturing relationships and a thriving family culture.
In 2018 my eldest daughter was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. We had a challenging year learning to deal with her illness, I learned so much about how to help her and how to support myself. It’s this knowledge I am sharing in my course and also developing a support network with other parents"
Peti Morgan
Founder, PetiMorgan.co
"Hi, I’m Peti Morgan. I help start ups, bootstrapping entrepreneurs and small biz owners stand out online, with DIY pro brand photography.
I’ve had multiple online businesses and brands since 2010, so I’ve had many opportunities to hone my online HQ creation skills. In fact, it lights me up to be challenged with coming up with a new brand! Like an actor who can recreate themselves in each role, I find that I naturally do this with online branding. In this incarnation, my online biz, tech, design and photography backgrounds intersect to provide offerings that help you DIY your own brand - creative and professional while having fun!"
Sonia Mcmanus
Founder, Sonia Therese Design
"I believe in the power of beauty, in all it's imperfect glory. I make jewellery that reflects such beauty, celebrates it and creates a legacy of it for all.
The person who wears a Sonia Therese piece of art is someone who appreciates that they are a unique creature, even if they are still getting comfortable with what that looks and feels like. Because no two pieces of jewellery are the same, each is created by hand and blessed with aroha, with wairua, with a sense of place and purpose.
I utilise a special technique of Sand Casting, where liquid precious metals are recycled and poured into a sand mould, creating a one-of-a-kind piece, literally.
Each piece of jewellery takes on the texture of the sand as well as a whisper of the spirit of place - a sense of belonging, tūrangawaewae! I create works of art that you wear, that house the spirits of our ancestors and loved ones, that they might guide us on our own pathway through life.
Yeah, I love what I do!"
Julia Wikeepa
Founder, Hā Habit
"Kia Ora! Ko Julia Wikeepa tōku ingoa. He uri tenei no Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, me Te-Atihauni-a-Pāpārangi. I am the founder of Hā Habit.
As a result of working with me, thousands of customers have been able to quickly relieve stress, overwhelm, and anxiety through developing simple habits of breathing better, thinking better and feeling better, enabling them to move forward towards their goals.
We do this through breathing trainers, education (Western & Indigenous knowledge), and fun challenges so they can develop solid hauora(well-being) habits.
I'm looking for individuals and organisations who are wanting to shift their environments from a place of stress, worry, & overwhelm to calm, focused and empowered so they can reach their personal and business goals quicker."