MASTERCLASS II: LET'S TALK DIVERSITY
UAWB is excited to deliver Part 2 of our Masterclass series: Let’s Talk Diversity!
Due to lockdown restrictions, the event has been adapted to be held via Zoom taking place on,
Thursday 1 October, 4:30pm-6pm
Why is diversity among women in business important?
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There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to an individual's journey towards leadership in the business field. Each person faces unique biases and obstacles.
In this Masterclass, UAWB will explore these challenges and opportunities, equipping our members with the knowledge and skills to navigate diversity and the business field.
To that end, UAWB has secured a high-powered panel with some of New Zealand’s most influential and experienced business leaders for this Masterclass. Our panel will reflect upon their stories and perspectives, examining the many ways in which women have successfully conquered various business fields whilst sharing insight into what different industries are doing in response to relevant issues.
To make the most of this excellent opportunity, it's encouraged for attendants and panel members to engage in a two-way dialogue - please submit questions before and during the event!
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Introducing our incredible panelists:
CAROLYN LUEY
Carolyn Luey joined Vodafone NZ in November 2018 as the Consumer Director and leads all aspects of the Consumer business unit, including P&L delivery across mobile and fixed lines of business, brand, marketing, product innovation and distribution.
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Prior to joining Vodafone, Carolyn was the General Manager, Enterprise Solutions & New Zealand at MYOB and responsible for MYOB in New Zealand and its Enterprise Solutions business across Australia and New Zealand, delivering strong revenue growth trans-Tasman across the Enterprise division and lead the growth in the presence and engagement in the MYOB brand in New Zealand.
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She held executive roles at NZME one of NZ’s leading media organisations as Chief Operating Officer responsible for operations across the digital, radio and print and Group Strategy and Operations Director where she brought together the technology group through the transformation to NZME and was responsible for strategy, product and development of new businesses. At The Radio Network, as Group General Manager Product, Digital and Technology she grew the digital business and launched iHeartRadio in New Zealand. Carolyn has also worked at Telecom New Zealand in marketing, strategy and product roles. Carolyn has over 15 years of experience in digital media, strategy, product management, marketing and business development across a range of industries including fast-moving consumer goods, telecommunication and technology.
MAI CHEN
Mai Chen is the Managing Partner of Chen Palmer New Zealand Public and Employment Law Specialists, Australasia’s first specialist public law firm which she co-founded in 1994.
Mai is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Auckland School of Law (and previously an Adjunct Professor at the Auckland Business School); a
Director on the Board of BNZ; Founder and Chair of New Zealand Asian Leaders; Founder and Chair of Superdiversity Centre for Law, Policy and Business; Founder and Chair of SUPERdiverse WOMEN; Inaugural Chair, NZ Global Women. Mai has been recognised as an individual who has used her position in public life to make an impact on diversity by being selected as a top 10 finalist for the 2014 and 2016 New Zealander of the Year Awards and as one of the Top 50 diversity figures in public life by the Global Diversity Company in May 2016. She was awarded Zonta Women of the Biennium 2017. She previously sat on the New Zealand Securities Commission, and on the Advisory Board of AMP Ltd.
RUSSELL WINDSOR
Russell has had the privilege of spending the past 20 years at PwC, working across various teams and in different offices around the world.
Being at PwC has allowed Russell to develop a better understanding as to his purpose - helping his clients and teams to navigate the world, make great decisions and grow both personally and professionally.
His passion for all things finance initially brought him to the firm straight out of University. From here he spent time in the Assurance team working alongside some of NZ’s largest businesses and eventually ended up in the Transactions Services team in Deals, which he leads today. This led Russell to discover a new passion - getting to understand what drives a business and working alongside his clients to help them achieve that next level of success, be it a small start-up looking for strategic advice, or a large corporate looking to tackle an acquisition.
At the heart of what Russell does is ensuring his people are able to thrive, and that has led him to various People and Culture roles within the Firm, including his previous roles as an Executive Coach, the Firm's Value and Culture Leader and the Diversity and Inclusion Leader. Today he leads the Deals People and Culture team and is the Chair of PwC’s LGBTI+ group - Shine.
Outside of work Russell can be found at the gym as he is addicted to Spin classes and the occasional weights session, out eating with friends or at home with his husband Sam and two dogs (Chewie - crazy Miniature Schnauzer and Lilah - even crazier Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy). He also spends time supporting his charity, Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland, for which he was previously a mentor and now supports the organisation as a Board member.
RANJNA PATEL ONZM, QSM
Ranjna (alongside her husband) set up the East Tamaki Healthcare Business in 1977, which now has 50 clinics and serves over 260,000 registered patients, making it the largest private primary health care provider in the country. Recently, it launched Bettr, a virtual health platform available to patients across NZ.
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Ranjna is also extensively involved in charitable and community groups for which she received a QSM in 2009 and ONZM in 2017. In 2014 she founded Gandhi Nivas, a Family Harm initiative that has seen some amazing results -Massey University independent research has shown nearly 60% men did not re-offend after going through the Gandhi Nivas program, over a period of 5 years
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Ranjna has won IBA Businesswoman of the Year for 2011, been awarded the EEO Walk the Talk Award and Positive Inclusion, inducted into the Co of Women NZ Hall of Fame, winner 2016 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Master Category and Deloitte's Visionary Leader 2016. In 2017 was the winner of the NEXT Woman of the Year- Business and Innovation Category.
She sits on many advisory boards – Diversity Works NZ, Mental Health Foundation, Middlemore Foundation, Co of Women, Global Women, NZ Police National Ethnic Forum, CM Police advisory Board and Director of Bank of Baroda. She was past chair of the NZCIA, Women’s Group, President of the Manukau Indian Association, Lotteries distribution committee, Vice-Chair of NZAL and ministerial committee of NACEW.
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