Kia Ora I'm Julie
Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei.
Seek the treasure you value most dearly: If you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.
This whakatauki resonates deeply with me. The treasure I sought was clarity and authenticity, and I knew I'd reached the top of my own lofty mountain when I found them.
Navigating to the Peak
With over 30 years of experience in the corporate and food manufacturing sectors, I thrived in high-demand, fast-paced environments. I embraced the pressure, the pace and the possibilities: the feeling that there’s always another mountain to climb: that when you reach the peak of one, you realise there are more, stretching to the horizon.
Grit got me through these full-on days, all while studying full-time.
As I climbed into more senior roles, I found myself navigating boardrooms where few looked like me. To fit in, I started reshaping myself, mimicking the style, tone, and presence of those around me, often at the cost of my own identity.
It wasn’t until a blunt manager said to me, “You’re spending so much of your time and energy at work thinking about how you need to look, act, and speak that it’s impacting your performance.” After my initial outrage, I took stock and considered my next step, I leant into that advice and found a new direction: a map for how to show up authentically.
When I began showing up fully as who I was, unapologetically, I started to thrive.
My influence grew across local and global teams, culminating in Corporate roles that had me travelling the world for over a decade. However, I felt my corporate life, complete with massive restructures and aggressive strategies, became less and less aligned with my personal values and plans.
Now, through coaching, I help people find their own maps: to reconnect with themselves, their values, their vision and their beliefs. Together, we create space for your voice, your mana, and your dreams to rise
My Values
For me, showing up authentically means staying true to what guides me: my whānau (family), hauora (wellbeing), culture, and the heart-led work I do as a coach. I empower others to live in alignment with their values and embrace meaningful growth.
Pepeha is a beautiful and meaningful way we introduce ourselves in Te Ao Māori. Pepeha is what shapes us and shapes our identity.
Our pepeha connects us to the land, ancestors and each other.
Here’s mine:
Ko wai au? Who am I?
Ka tau taku manu i runga i tōku maunga o Whakapunake.
E takoto ana a Hinekorako i raro i ngā wairere o Te Reinga, he kaitiaki ia o ngā wairere o ngā awa Ruakituri me Hangaroa.
Ka haaro taku manu, ka topa taku manu ki ngā wairere, ka tau taku manu ki Te Reinga marae.
Ka rewa te waka tīpuna o Takitimu, ka rere tahi taku manu ki te taha o tōku waka, hei kawe i aku moemoeā ki tua o te pae.
My bird settles on the peak of Whakapunake..
Hinekorako rests under the waterfalls of Te Reinga, she is the guardian of the waterfalls and the rivers Ruakituri and Hangaroa.
My bird soars, my bird swoops the waterfalls, my bird settles at Te Reinga Marae.
The ancestral canoe Tākitimu sets sail, my bird takes flight alongside my canoe, to carry my dreams beyond the horizon.
I am married to my high school sweetheart, Arona, and we live in the heart of Te Matau-a-Māui, Hawke’s Bay. Our greatest joy is our daughter, Yahaira, now an accomplished doctor carving her own path in the world. Watching her flourish has deepened my belief in the power of purpose, perseverance, and tautoko (support).
Each client is unique and never “just a client". Similarly, the unique experience I provide is never "just a service". Through our work together, they discover their next chapter and map a way forward that’s right for them. Every coaching experience strengthens my ability to support future clients, creating a cycle of shared growth and learning.
As we journey together, I help them rediscover presence within themselves, that shifts not only their internal landscape, but the relationships they build along the way. Whether with whānau, friends, or new connections, their interactions carry greater clarity, intention, and aroha.
Whānau - Family
Hauora - Wellbeing
Wellbeing is one of the key stops on my whānau map. We’re big on movement but we also make time for slowing down. Nature, water, long walks, these are the moments that bring us back to ourselves.Taking time to breathe, reflect, and reset is part of the rhythm we choose. Whether it’s journaling, reading, or just being still for a moment, we make time to reconnect, to our mind, our wairua, and each other. Hauora, for us, is about finding balance along the journey and knowing when to rest beside the track before the next climb.
Hauora isn’t just a value I talk about, it’s something I embed into every part of my business. The tools I share with my clients are a koha: simple, practical, and rooted in routine and ritual. When our wellbeing is steady and supported, we’re far more equipped to take on the bigger shifts; whether it’s lifestyle, growth, or stepping into the next version of ourselves.
Ngā Pūtake o taku manu -
The origins of my bird
Learning Te Reo Māori as a second language has been a powerful part of my journey, it keeps me safely connected to my whakapapa, my pepeha, and my wairua. It’s not about being perfect or fluent overnight; it’s about showing up, learning with heart, and honouring where I come from. My reo journey has helped me step into my story. I no longer feel adrift, trying to figure out who I am. I know where I stand. I’m a Mana Wahine, proud to be Māori.
I support my clients in finding their own truth, who they are underneath it all. We use proven approaches to remove the layers they have cloaked themselves with: values, beliefs, boundaries. Together, we rediscover the person they may have lost sight of.
Kaipakihi - Business
I’m living what I once dreamed about, running my own business as a coach who backs people to step into their potential. Business, leadership, life coaching, it's all wrapped in one kaupapa for me: helping others grow, lead with heart, and stay true to who they are.
Even back in my corporate days, coaching came naturally. I was always that person quietly coaching my team, planting the seeds for future leaders. So landing here didn’t surprise me, it just made complete sense.
I care deeply about connection, consistency, and walking the talk. I show up for myself, for my clients and for what I believe in. This business is more than just work; it’s my lifestyle, my safe space, my way of making an impact. It’s the place where passion meets purpose.
