Future wahine toa (strong/brave women) were inspired by the leadership journeys of some of the nations top women yesterday.

Three time Rugby World Cup winner and former Black Ferns captain Dame Farah Palmer, Rural Women New Zealand president Gill Naylor, Central Lakes Trust (CLT) chief executive Barbara Bridger and Horticulture New Zealand regional representative - Otago and Canterbury Chelsea Donnelly all spoke to a group of pupils at a special Dunstan High School (DHS) leadership breakfast.

The women spoke about their background, current roles, and obstacles they had overcome.

Common themes across the panellists were imposter syndrome, balancing the needs of whānau and motherhood with a career focus, their leadership approach, the value of role models, investing in yourself and being open to seize opportunities.

Dame Farah - who is current New Zealand Rugby Board deputy chair, New Zealand Māori Rugby Board chair and a member of the Sport New Zealand Board - said she still pinches herself to be in these positions.

Watch Dame Farah on leadership here (30 seconds). VIDEO: The Central App 

She shared anecdotes from her high school years including writing a letter to get a girls cricket team started, playing netball, being the board of trustees representative and how she “said yes to a whole bunch of opportunities”. 

“I would describe myself as a quiet leader… I do things behind the scenes, rather than out the front, but when you are in a crowd of people who are all six foot tall, ex-locks and they are all ‘who’s got the loudest voice’, that's how they get leadership roles… you have to try to figure out how you can stand out in that way,’’ Dame Farah said.

“I choose my moments to speak and I wait for the noise to go down and then I’ll say something that I feel is really important or really pointed.”

Talking to smaller groups, or influential people was another way to get ideas across the line, she said.

“How the heck did I get here, a little girl from Piopio? 

“And here I am… and I have to check myself, and go ‘‘you deserve to be here you’re doing your best, you’re getting out there and you might not be making magnificent changes all the time but you’re doing little things on a day-to-day basis which are bringing about change’’,’’ she said.

“You do have to gee yourself up . . . I’ll do a karakia, or I’ll go into a little private room and do a haka to get myself ready to go into battle.’’

Rural Women New Zealand president Gill Naylor, who farmed in Becks for 38 years, said it was a privilege to talk about her path to leadership to the leaders of tomorrow.

She said a Central Lakes Trust leadership programme she completed was the best thing she’d done.

Her current role had led to international travel opportunities which were invaluable learning experiences. 

Speaking at the Dunstan High School's leadership breakfast were (from left) Rural Women New Zealand president Gill Naylor, former Black Ferns captain Dame Farah Palmer, Horticulture New Zealand regional representative - Otago and Canterbury Chelsea Donnelly, and Central Lakes Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger. PHOTO: The Central App 

CLT chief executive Barbara Bridger said she believed women need to be good role models for their children.

“I think it is vitally important to teach our sons and daughters that women are equal to men.

“If a couple chooses to have a family, then the role of raising children can be shared, and it should be a conscious decision to work out what’s best for the family and not an automatic default that women give up their jobs and stay at home.”

Dunstan High School pupils, staff and speakers at the Dunstan High School leadership breakfast. PHOTO: The Central App  

Barbara shared her three mantras in life: “You can do anything, if you put your mind to it, you can be who you want to be, and you are in control of your own destiny.”

The panel answered questions from the floor about past mentors and leaders they have looked up to, and how to tackle self doubt.

DHS pupil Coco Lahood-Robinson said listening to the speakers made her want to back herself and get out there and achieve more.

“Being from a small town, you can still do anything,” Coco said.

Fellow pupil Grace Begg thanked the women for their time and contribution on behalf of the audience.

DHS girls first XV co-coach Fiona King is a former Black Fern and was in the winning 1998 and 2002 World Cup teams with Dame Farah. She got a chance to catch up with her friend during the visit. PHOTO: The Central App.

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