New Zealand Interviews

The Most Interesting Boss in New Zealand, Steve White of Stonyridge Vineyard, Shares Teaching Yoga to Staff and More

March 19, 2012
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Steve White started Stonyridge Vineyard in 1981 with the inspiration to recreate the Mediterranean lifestyle that he loved in his home country of New Zealand. Stonyridge Vineyard now employs 35 people, and Steve White describes it as a full agriculture, restaurant, export, and government compliance operation. Steve White maintains a very casual, family-like attitude at Stonyridge [...]

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Scott Mathieson and Hayley Roberts Paddle Their Own Canoe at Working In

March 19, 2012
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Scott Mathieson’s first job was in marketing. After six short weeks, he resigned to work in the ski industry. His wife, Hayley Roberts, had her first “job” going door-to-door as a Jehovah Witness. Upon reflection Hayley considered going door-to-door as great sales training for her later job in media sales. Scott jokes that Hayley learned [...]

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From Poor to Great – Luella Bartlett’s Rise with the Professional Bar and Restaurant School

March 17, 2012
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Luella Bartlett admits she was a shockingly poor employee who always thought she knew best. So it’s probably a good thing that she fell into starting her business, The Professional Bar and Restaurant School ”PBRS,” with her husband, Scott. Scott actually founded the company in 1993 when he bought it from a friend for $500 so [...]

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Keeping It Simple – Mat Wylie Evolves Dynamite to Stay Ahead

March 15, 2012
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Mat Wylie has only had one job interview in his life, and he got that job when he was 19. By the time Mat was 23, a partner at his agency wanted him and two others to buy him out for $250,000. Mat jokes that they probably didn’t even have $25 amongst them – much [...]

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Going B-I-G: Behind the Scenes Success of Sue Fleischl and The Great Catering Company

March 15, 2012
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Susan “Sue” Fleischl, founder of The Great Catering Company, never thought she would start her own business. Sue considered herself more a follower than a leader. This is hard to believe since she was so engaging during our interview and her personality filled the room.  When Sue Fleischl was working abroad or in New Zealand [...]

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Baking Culture into bka Interactive

March 12, 2012
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Like Marlaine McCauley of Apex Facility Resources, Barbara “Barb” Anderson also took an unconventional route to starting bka Interactive. Barb went to Otaga University to become a teacher, but she admits that she never really felt like it was a perfect fit. She didn’t like it too much, and after her youngest child was born, she quit [...]

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New Zealand Arrival

February 12, 2012
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Just arrived in Auckland on Saturday. It was overcast and drizzly and reminded me of a humid day in Hawaii. The cab driver shared that it was nice and sunny for the entire week prior, but the weather was going to be not so nice moving forward. Then I checked the forecast and saw that [...]

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