Over the next few days we peek inside The Central App team’s lockdown bubbles and uncover their secrets for getting through lockdowns, now and in the future.

Behind the Brand showcases our innovators, entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, leaders. 

It’s like a backstage pass into the real person behind the success. What makes them tick, what makes them successful. A peek at some of Central Otago’s smartest and most interesting people.

Learn their secrets, get hot tips from those with experience, and discover why you should support their venture.

Vicki is owner and team leader at The Central App. She is the jack-of-all-trades behind the scenes, as well as being seen around town supporting local businesses and community events.

Her secret to getting through lockdown? Laughter! 

“For sanity, it’s bike riding with Fraser (Vicki’s partner) around the rail trail, meditation, walks, and doing cook-offs, seeing who can make the best dessert with what's in the pantry. 

“We did this on Zoom the other night with the whole family included. Very funny!”

Vicki said she is spending lockdown on Fraser's farm in the Ida Valley, along with their seven dogs.  

“I’m not sure where else in the world I would want to be right now! Bliss.”

I asked Vicki for her listening, reading and watching recommendations for getting through lockdown. Read on for her choices.

Getting out for a daily ride with Fraser is one way Vicki keeps mentally positive.

Podcast: ‘Dare to Lead’ with Brene Brown

"Most people know Brene Brown through her Ted talk about vulnerability. It went viral.

“I love her work, her research and the candid conversations she has on her podcast series.

“She calls it how it is. For a no-nonsense yet compassionate leader, which I strive to be, I like her style and can relate to many of the leaders' conversations; you feel like you’re eavesdropping. 

“I find myself listening with a notebook - so if you walk while podcasting, this is probably not the best one. 

“My favourite so far in the series is Pryia Parker and Charles Dugigg on habits and productivity.” 

Book: All books written by Malcolm Gladwell 

"Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian Journalist, author and public speaker, who would be at my dinner table if I had a choice of who to invite for dinner. 

“He has written five New York Times best sellers and I've read them all. The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dag saw, David and Goliath.

“He covers my passion for popular culture and gives a balanced perspective that leaves you thinking.  A real blend of sociology, psychology, and social anthropology.” 

Movie: ‘Sliding Doors’ 

"It shows my age, and I really wish they'd update this movie, as it is just such a reminder of how your life can go in a completely different direction based on things we can't control. Timely with Covid.  

“In the movie, Helen (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) is fired from her job and she rushes out to catch a train; two scenarios take place. 

“In one, she gets on the train and in the other she misses the train. Two very different outcomes. 

“It makes you think about 'what if' and for me, it's believing what is meant for you, will find you.

“Accepting things happen for a reason.”

Documentary: ‘The Social Dilemma’ 

"This is a documentary on social media - the force for good, change or evil. Just how much these platforms have changed our lives.  

“Mostly the damage it has done, and how the vulnerable are preyed on by marketers and scammers. 

“Fake news spreads six times faster than real news, hence we are bombarded with all these made up stories and rumours.  

“I think that is why I like to own a small media platform that can bring just the truth and live by the values of 'if it does harm we don't publish. 

“We are here to provide a service to the community that speaks the truth and share stories that uplift people to be and do better".

Images supplied