EPIC Empower NZ

The EPIC programme empowers solo parents through a blend of career development, personal growth, and a strong emphasis on holistic well-being and inclusion. EPIC empowers Solo parents with the skills, knowledge, and connections to secure meaningful employment and explore sustainable opportunities in high-paid and evolving industries.

Founder 

Seed Waikato

At Seed, we are driven by our commitment to fostering community and development through initiatives like the community-generated 'Seasons' programme, Te Aka Matua, and Seeds for Change. Each of these projects is crafted by and for young people, providing them with the connections and tools they need to live purposeful lives and create thriving communities based on equity.

I feel truly blessed to be part of this journey and am excited about the amazing mahi we have on the horizon. I look forward to learning from and growing with our network of inspiring 'seedlings' and changemakers.

To find out more about the incredible work we do at Seed, please visit https://www.seedwaikato.nz/mahi-our-work

Co-Chair

Eduventurenz

Helping you navigate your study and career in New Zealand
As a coach, I help international students, skilled migrants and immigrants identify the right career pathway in New Zealand and prepare them to be New Zealand work-ready. 
Get real insights into living, studying, and working in New Zealand
Get objective assessments, advice on course selection and realistic outcomes.
Get support and guidance along every step of your journey.
Build a network in New Zealand and gain knowledge of connecting with employers

CDANZ - Career Development Association of New Zealand

As the Professional Development Co-Lead for CDANZ, my focus is identifying and supporting Professional development activities for our members and establishing robust connections with professional bodies and leaders nationally and internationally. 
This role goes beyond mere networking; it's about actively seeking and exploring opportunities for collaborative Professional Development initiatives. By fostering these partnerships, I aim to enrich the learning experiences available to our members, providing them with a more diverse and comprehensive range of growth opportunities.

National Executive Committee Member and Professional Development Lead 

Asia Pacific Career Development Association

Further amplifying my commitment to career development, I'm honoured to represent New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA). I take pride in the opportunity to showcase our nation's contributions to the world of career development. 
The APCDA stands as a beacon for sharing pioneering career development practices across the Asia Pacific, providing a space to engage the world with transformative insights.
As a professional development co-lead for CDANZ, one of my pivotal roles involves forging strong relationships with other professional bodies globally.  It is not just about networking but about exploring viable avenues for joint Professional Development opportunities, creating a richer, more diversified learning environment for all involved. I look forward to learning, collaborating and sharing pioneering career development practices across the Asia Pacific region.

New Zealand Country Director and Representative 

Te Waka: Waikato's Regional Economic Development Agency

Te Waka is a business-led and governed organisation established to facilitate and drive economic growth across the Waikato region. Te Waka works in partnership with existing economic development, iwi, business, government and community organisations to get things done and to unearth opportunities that will lead to jobs, prosperity and sustainable economic growth for everybody. 

As a Kaihautū Whaneketanga Mahi | Workforce Development Lead, I am responsible for enabling the development of a diverse, thriving, and adaptable Waikato workforce

Kaihautū Whaneketanga Mahi | Workforce Development Lead 

Te Waka is actively involved in supporting the International Education sector. I am responsible for leading Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao's funded project to attract international students to the Mighty Waikato, with a focus on Thailand 
My responsibilities include 
- implementing the project plan
- partnering with education providers
- establishing and managing partnerships/contracts with delivery partners
- facilitation of digital marketing content in partnership with Thailand agents 
- Engaging with the Local Thai community in the Waikato 
- Representing Waikato as an ideal study destination in Thailand education fairs

Project Manager - Learn Waikato

Tertiary Education Commission

Work Connect is an initiative run by the Tertiary Education Commission and funded by the Ministry of Business to support skilled migrants, their partners and graduating international students to find employment and get New Zealand Work ready. 
As a career development consultant, I facilitate workshops and offer personalised 1:1 coaching to supports clients. I help them identify effective strategies to network and find jobs that match their skills and experiences they have bought and gained in New Zealand, shaping a resilient and culturally diverse generation.

Career Development Consultant - Work Connect/ Migrant Futures

Aspire2 Group Limited

Independent Contract Tutor, working directly with corporate clients and aligning stakeholder needs to facilitate and deliver workplace communication sessions. Meeting Tertiary Commision guidelines by identifying gaps in Adult Literacy and Numeracy, using assessment tools and documenting progress

Workplace Communication Facilitator 

NZMA

•	Developing student’s supervisory and leadership skills. 
•	Providing career advice and preparing them for employment.
•	Providing effective student-centered tuition in Business and Computing, creating an environment that promotes learning and up-skilling.
•	Marking formative and summative assessments, a reflection of quality management and maintaining updated records of student progress.
•	Providing feedback, guidance and support to students and working towards the achieving learning outcomes.
•	Learning and maintaining a breadth of knowledge on the NCEA system and goals, in alignment with NZQA processes and systems in play for the organisation.
•	Working with the Literacy Numeracy Coordinator to ensure that LN development has a strong presence in the classrooms.
•	Liaising with Quality team in moderating, evaluating and designing assessments on review dates of unit standards and assessment materials in accordance to meet with prescription requirements.
•	Mentoring and buddying up with new tutors to help achieve 4098, 11551 and 11552. Resources developed are still used by existing Tutors.
•	Conducting meetings with industry professionals, implementing valued suggestions to fulfil real-life work requirements, equipping students to be job ready.

Supervision - Business Tutor 

UUNZ Institute of Business

•	Liaising with various stakeholders to create work opportunities for students.
•	Building confidence to enter the workforce.
•	Peer tutor for level 6 to 9, supporting in academic writing, referencing and bridging communication between students and teachers.

Peer Tutor

My passion for education combined with my love for adventure has taken me on an incredible journey – across countries and disciplines. With 20+ years of combined experience in business, academia and adult education and I expertly weave these experiences into my coaching practice. 

As a Coach, I love to help my clients explore the limitless possibilities within themselves and motivate them to unleash their real potential through partnership and collaboration. I am an ardent believer of appreciative inquiry and transformative coaching; envisioning success by focusing on strengths rather than weakness and accordingly develop interventions to change, accelerate, construct and nurture people’s way of thinking and help translate their understanding into an action plan. 

My strengths 
Career Coaching  | Success Coaching | Coaching and Facilitation | Strength Identification and Motivation |  Innovative Student-Centred Learning | Learner Engagement | Resource Development | Team Building | Workplace Communication

We light lamps. We share sweets. We post #HappyDiwali.
But here’s the real question - What does light over darkness mean in a world where the darkness doesn’t come with monsters…
 …it comes with burnout, bias, and silence?

 -In our homes.
 -In our workplaces.
 -In our daily grit.

This Diwali, as I explained the meaning of light to Aroha, I was reminded that our children don’t just listen to what we say. they watch how we live.
if I want her to understand light, I have to be it. 

I say this with as much love as truth:
Anyone can talk about light.
Not many will be it, especially when it’s easier to blend in with the dark.

This festival isn’t just an Indian thing, or an ‘exotic’ celebration for the calendar.
It’s a call to action.
A challenge every day, not just one night to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s not popular.

Because real courage isn’t in adding pics with famous faces or colourful stories (though I have plenty!)—it’s in the underdog moments.

-Questioning the unspoken rules at work.

-Speaking up for those who can't or won't because they are scared 

-Owning your mistakes, with a smile and a plan to do better.

As I step back onto LinkedIn after a needed pause.
I’ll choose the infamous truths.
I’ll choose to say what needs saying, even if my voice shakes.

💛 May this Diwali inspire us to be the light we keep wishing for. 

E te whānau, e te iwi—may the light within you find its way out.

Happy Diwali from Aroha and me 🌼

To new beginnings. To brave hearts. To a world that needs your light 🫶 

What's your small act of courage today?

🎓 Pratishtha Purohit 🎓

A picture of me with my 6 yr old celebrating Diwali

Yesterday was a milestone moment. Our very first time representing Eduventurenz at an Expo at the #AIC career Expo 2025 Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 

It was more than a course launch — it was the beginning of a community. Speaking face-to-face with students reminded me just how wide the gap is between what surveys capture and what students actually live through —
 their challenges, their hopes, and the sheer courage it takes to build a new life in a new country.

Every conversation was a reminder of why these workshops exist.
Because our courses aren’t built on glossy brochures or sugar-coated promises. 

They’re built on real stories, raw experiences, and hard truths — the kind every international student deserves to hear before they step into the real world.

Landing your dream role in New Zealand isn’t about luck.
 It’s about preparation, performance, and the right guidance the kind that turns potential into purpose.

As an international graduate myself, I know the resilience, adaptability, and quiet determination this journey demands.
 And I’m here to make sure no student has to walk it alone.

A heartfelt thank you to Dani Mao and team  for organising such a wonderful event and creating a space for genuine connection and learning. And as Dani beautifully said — “Networking isn’t about who you meet. It’s about who you grow with.” Here’s to growing, learning, and creating spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and ready to thrive. 

A big thank to my student volunteers Deepa Veerabhadrachar and Abhilash Bansikar 💛 and a pleasure to meet you Tom Wu, look forward to another catch up 

If you’re an education provider, student advisor, or agent — I’d love to connect and explore how we can work together to empower more international talent in Aotearoa. #EduventureNZ #InternationalEducation #CareerReadiness #CulturalIntelligence #StudentSuccess

From “I’m a Failure” to “I’m a Scholar.” 🎓💛

How and what we speak in the privacy of our own minds shapes how we see ourselves — and how the world sees us.

I failed three years in a row during my Bachelor’s in Commerce.
And after each failure, I told myself:
👉🏽 “I’m a failure.”
And guess what? I became exactly that.

Then life gave me a tougher lesson — a brain injury that cost me three senses.

But somewhere between losing balance and learning to stand again, I gained something priceless: the common sense to change the story in my head.

That shift changed everything.

In 2013 I completed my first Master’s in New Zealand with High Distinction and multiple scholarships — including the Dean’s Academic Achievement Award and the International Student Excellence Award.

Then came a Post Graduate study in adult education and two more diplomas in Career Development and Adult Training, all with Merit — and a handful of certifications with A+ grades.

Sounds like boasting?
Good. Because I am.
Because I’ve worked damn hard for all of it  being a solo mum, a full time job and a business. 
English is my fourth language — and ChatGPT didn’t even exist back then! 😅

Here’s the thing: a leader never stops seeking, and a seeker never stops learning.

My Master’s research in 2013 explored the Virtual World — long before it became mainstream — and was even presented at the World Economic Forum in 2014.
The futurist in me has always whispered: think different, stay ahead.

For over two years, I’ve been drawn to the Master’s in Tech Futures programme.
Every part of it — the kaupapa, the vision, the people — felt like a calling.

And here I am, answering it.

After completing my Micro-credential in Disruptive Technologies with academyEX, I knew this was where I needed to be.
Thank you academyEX and Frances for this incredible opportunity — and for believing in bold thinkers like me 🙏

Because the future of technology isn’t just about innovation, it’s about inclusion.
I want to harness the power of AI for good — for people, for communities, and especially for those who often get left behind.

So here I am — starting again💪
A scholar. A learner. A believer.

This scholarship is more than an award — it’s a reminder of the power of your mind.

You don’t need to bang your head to be smart.
You just need to start by being kind to yourself — and giving your self some love.

Wish me luck — it’s my first day back as a student.
Hello, 11:59 pm deadlines… we meet again! ⏰😉

🫶So, what are you telling yourself today?

I lost my mentor.
And with that, I lost one of the kindest, most brilliant minds I’ve ever known.
They say when the student is ready, the teacher appears.
And when I was ready to take EduventureNZ to the next level, the best mentor I could have hoped for appeared right here on LinkedIn. 

I had lost hope, after many attempts to connect within the industry, I found myself lost. You were different Paul Irwin 💛 You were humble and down to earth!  

You embodied everything I had ever wanted in a mentor: your vibrant passion for international education, your commitment to enhancing student experiences, and your love for horticulture. 

I admired your purposeful approach to life, and I’ll never forget our chats about olive harvests and wines.

But what I didn’t expect was how deeply empathetic, kind, and generous you’d be.

You listened to my wild, ambitious ideas without judgment.

You took notes. You laughed.
And then you came back with names, connections, and encouragement.
I miss that.
I miss your emails that always ended with something thoughtful and practical.

I miss our recurring Zoom meetings, which I just had to cancel. And that’s what broke me.

I found out you were gone just as I finished putting together the care package we’d talked about. I’d researched Ayurvedic remedies for you and had just found the final ingredient, the one you would’ve smiled at, but I never got to send it.

I wish I had messaged you, just to say, “It’s almost ready.”

That’s the thing about grief, it doesn’t give you a redo.

It just leaves you staring at old notes, rereading meeting summaries, replaying conversations, and wishing for one more.

Your last message to me was:

🫶 “Your kaupapa is meaningful and much needed. Aside from your mahi, I like your energy and vision.”

You made me believe that my work mattered.

That my ambitious plans weren’t too much — they were just right.

And because of that, I’ll keep going. I’ll keep doing the work, no matter how bold it sounds.

I’ll reach out to every connection you told me to — even if I don’t hear back.
You were one of the most intelligent, grounded, and empathetic leaders I’ve ever met.

In our last two sessions, you showed me the power of positivity — and the strength it takes to keep showing up with hope, even in hard times.

I will carry your lessons and your laughter with me always💛

To anyone reading this — if you’re in the middle of doing something thoughtful for someone, don’t wait to tell them.

Even if it’s not ready yet, pick up the phone. Send the message.
Let them know you care.
Because sometimes, that call is the one we’ll wish we’d made.

Thank you for showing me that ambition and empathy can coexist. Thank you for believing in me and for every moment you invested in my journey 🙏 
I promise your lessons, kindness, and laughter will live on in my work and in every student I reach.
Rest in peace, mentor. You truly were one of a kind 💛

Image created by Dalle 3 A symbolic tribute a lone candle, a guiding light, a teacher’s silhouette fading into the stars

AI can replicate intelligence — but not humanity. 💫
-Sense-making.
-Decision-making.
-Collaboration.
-Trust-building.
-Storytelling.
These are the distinctive human capabilities that no algorithm can replace.
And on our first day of the Master’s in Tech Futures programme at academyEX, we put them all into action — one LEGO brick at a time.

We tackled wicked, real-world problems — from healthcare and transport to natural disasters, terrorism, and blockchain. 
Through LEGO simulations, mess mapping, and mega-trend analysis, we explored what it truly means to think beyond the obvious.

We scaffolded second- and third-order thinking, challenged assumptions, and solved complexity — with creativity, laughter, and purpose.

It’s incredible how much you can build with those tiny blocks.
 (And now, when I’m clearing Aroha’s LEGO at home, I might as well start solving a few global challenges while I’m at it! 😅)

What stood out most wasn’t the tech or the tools — it was the people.
 -The diverse minds.
 -The shared energy.
 -The courage to ask better questions.

Because the future of technology isn’t about replacing humans.
It’s about amplifying what makes us human.

This first day reminded me why I fell in love with learning all over again.

I’m beyond excited to spend the next 1.5 years learning, collaborating, and reimagining futures alongside these brilliant minds Laurent Antonczak, and with the visionary Frances Valintine CNZM, who reminded us:
“No matter how small we are in this galaxy, we have the power to leave behind a legacy.”

Here’s to a journey of innovation, disruption, and courage — one LEGO block at a time.
 to designing futures with intelligence and heart. 🌍✨
Thank you to the entire team behind the scenes for creating such an inclusive and fun environment 🙏 
p.s - I also got to spend some time with one of my fav humans Kauri Tearaura ❤️ 

#TechFutures #HumanCapabilities #AIForGood #AcademyEX #DesignThinking #SystemsThinking #FutureOfWork #LifelongLearning

I am a suicide survivor.
You’ve seen my victories and achievements, but not the rock bottom that shaped them when I was 21.
This is a battle with no opponent, and that’s the hardest part.
You fight with your own mind. You start to believe the world is better without you.

And when you survive, another challenge begins: finding your place again in a world that doesn’t know what to say, or how to see you.

My healing began unexpectedly in a classroom in 2014 

When I met my first group of rangatahi.
At first, I resisted it (that’s a story for another post).
But as I looked at them. Lost, angry, pretending to be strong, and I saw myself.
And something shifted.

I decided that my purpose was to be the person I needed when I was lost.

So, I left my business career and chose a new path, championing this cause and helping young people find their strength, their voice, and their belonging.

In 2019, I co-founded Release, because youth voices matter.
We created a platform where stories of pain became stories of power, a space where crisis could become a springboard to purpose. We organised some amazing events, but then becoming a full-time Mumma took over. 

I continued my work through serving as a board member and Chair at Seed Waikato

In my last contract, working with the Tuakau Youth Centre, I was again reminded of the quiet, consistent, and uncelebrated mahi that community organisations do every single day. None of it makes the headlines, but it changes lives.

That’s where I met Lisa Hawkeswood, a mother who lost her son Jack, and turned her pain into purpose. I admire her courage and grit to be the voice 

She is building something extraordinary: a bridge between mental health services, whānau, and community so that no one walks alone.
In Jack’s honour, she’s launching Jack’s Table  a community-led, culturally grounded space for healing and connection.
 
On November 15, Lisa and her team will host a community dinner to launch this initiative.
If you’re in a position to help, please consider attending, sponsoring a seat, or simply sharing this message so that someone who needs it can find it. its only for $35 

Because while we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, awareness isn’t enough anymore.
We don’t need more research papers or reports; we need real action.
We need communities to stand together.
I wish I had that kind of support years ago.
Instead, my struggle became a police case because in India, attempting suicide is a crime.
No one should ever be punished for pain.
I speak not just for myself, but for every person who has ever felt invisible.
✨ If you are fighting this battle, please hold on.
 You are not broken.
 You are becoming.
And to those who care, check in. Reach out. Don’t wait.

Sometimes, it becomes too late.
Let’s turn awareness into action.

Let’s build a world where no one feels alone in their darkest times
#MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #YouthEmpowerment

A poster for Jack's table: a Space to heal connect and empower 

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