MC Philly Angus welcomes the 120 wāhine who attended the sold-out Women in Business lunch celebrating women’s leadership and business across Rotorua. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
MC Philly Angus welcomes the 120 wāhine who attended the sold-out Women in Business lunch celebrating women’s leadership and business across Rotorua. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
Rotorua’s female business community turned out in force on Tuesday as 120 women attended the Rotorua Business Chamber’s Women in Business lunch.
The sold-out event at Te Puia celebrated women’s leadership, authenticity and empowerment and brought together business owners, professionals and community leaders for connection, kai and kōrero, aChamber statement said.
Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle and Sport Bay of Plenty chief executive Heidi Lichtwark shared insights from their leadership journeys, touching on resilience, authenticity and wellbeing.
Castle encouraged attendees to “forget imposter syndrome and think of normal nerves, and to step into opportunities”, drawing on her experience leading major sporting organisations across Australasia.
Lichtwark said, “We can’t please everyone”, and highlighted the value of balance, noting fresh air and physical activity were central to maintaining leadership clarity and perspective.
Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short said the event captured the essence of the chamber’s purpose – to connect, support and champion Rotorua’s business community.
“It’s inspiring to see so many of our local wāhine coming together to share, learn and uplift one another.
“These events remind us that when women support women, our entire business community grows stronger.”
Novotel and Ibis Rotorua Lakeside sales and marketing manager Vanessa Price said it was an “incredible celebration of Rotorua’s wāhine in business”.
RotoruaNZ head of marketing and communications Marisa Balle said the talented people “driving growth” in Rotorua were inspiring, and the organisation was grateful to the chamber for bringing them together.
MC Philly Angus, Raelene Castle ONZM and Heidi Lichtwark share insights at the Rotorua Business Chamber Women in Business Lunch, held at Te Puia. Photo / Michelle Cutelli Photography
Ashleigh Nairn, of event sponsor BurgerFuel Fairy Springs, said the energy and engagement in the room reflected the strength of Rotorua’s women in business community.
“It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many driven, talented wāhine who continue to uplift and strengthen our local business community.”
The Women in Business events continued to grow in popularity. The next event, “Flourish in 26”, would take place on January 29 at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa.
