Seeds

Mark Laurence and I had a great discussion on AI and the future and A.icehouse, a new initiative for SMEs that he is working on with Icehouse, to learn more about the future of AI and what it might mean for companies and directors and business owners as well as charities and other organisations.  Have a look at these links to find out more.  

A.icehouse website: https://www.theicehouse.co.nz/a.icehouse  

Ten Past Tomorrow site: htt...

In this session I talked with Dr Brett Mann about conflict and how it influences board dynamics and he had a lot of wisdom to share on this fascinating topic. This is part of our ongoing commitment from Parry Field Lawyers to hosting important conversations that help you all. Forward on or tag someone in it may interest? 

Dr Brett Mann joined me in a conversation we need to have about conflict and board dynamics.  Brett shared his...

The audio version of my recent book on careers, work, identity, purpose and impact.

You can download the book here https://theseeds.nz/articles/the-circle-careers-with-impact/

Contents

The Circle 
Introduction
Part I: Our source of identity 
Part II: Misconception about work 
Part III: Purpose and your values 
Part IV: Why all this impacts you 
Part V: Developing seed habits 
Part VI: Creativity and vulnerability 
Part VII: What ar...

Tom Cooney is a visiting Erskine Fellow to the University of Canterbury and I was lucky enough to sit with him in person and hear about his life story and the work he does today helping marginalised groups (those with disabilities, refugees, former prisoners, asylum seekers etc) access entrepreneurship education.  

But we start with his childhood, influences, parents, what he studied and how he came to be involved in this area - th...

This is the audio of the paper released about the topic of Nature as Shareholder.  You can access the paper at this link to download it: https://www.parryfield.com/impact-investing-information-hub/

Nature as Shareholder 🌱 Am releasing this paper today on a fascinating topic that I really enjoyed researching and writing over the last year (or two!).  Feel free to post and/or leave a comment with your thoughts, or help spread word b...

Andrew is the CEO of the NZGBC and in this episode we hear about the work they do as well as find out more about his life story.  I learned a lot about the way that homes are measured through the Homestar rating and the important work that the New Zealand Green Building Council - and its 700 members - are doing in this area.  

NZGBC Website is here 

Andrew also shared this

Real-world success stories: Explore how other developers ar...

Karim Sabet has led an interesting life having been born in Africa, raised in Japan and Egypt but also having lived in Malaysia and now is settled with his young family in Selwyn, New Zealand. 
 
We talk about that international background and what it was like to grow up between cultures – being from somewhere but never having lived there as a child.  We also discuss his career and the work he has done as an entrepreneur as well as...

In this session I got insights from Shamubeel Eaqub the Chief Economist at Simplicity on a huge variety of topics - the economy, mountains, measuring value, wars, the working poor, superannuation, public forums for discussion, social cohesion, butter prices - we covered a lot!  Who might you tag in or share this with?  I also describe my new book The Circle: Careers with Impact which is a free download available now!  

The Economy ...

Latesha Hearth has led a fascinating life of curiousity which makes for a conversation touching on many topics - yoghurt, strangers on planes, home schooling, community, chocolate, Edmund Hillary Fellowship and much more.  Links to things discussed:

Weave Cacao https://weavecacao.com/ 

The Values Trust https://valuestrust.co.nz/ 

The Raglan Food Co https://raglanfoodco.com/ 

Edmund Hillary Fellowship https://www.ehf.org/ 

Oonagh Br...

This is a short message out to ask for your help – yes, I need you, my seeds community!  To participate my email is steven@theseeds.nz 

I’ve reflected a lot on my own life and work and crafted something that is short and to the point but I really think will help you.  It also reflects many concepts from guests I've learned on Seeds.  

Will be releasing “The Circle: Careers with Impact” a 50 page book this month and would like to:
 
...

I saw a LinkedIn post from Arron Judson on the topic of different people having different skill sets and the framing of 'Explorers' and 'Optimisers'.  This is the short conversation we had where he explained more on this.  

To find out more the site for Eidotic which is here (but check back later as being built still): Coming Soon EIDOTIC

This is the LinkedI...

Seán has written a book on being an Impact Professional and we hear all about it on this episode of seeds as well as his life story.  For more episodes visit www.theseeds.nz 

Seán's book site https://www.impactprofessional.nz 

Impact Professional podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6liZrE1y3BN6Q31z0rHTrG 

Also check out the 232 Degrees podcast on books from Seán Barnes and Carl Davidson https://open.spotify.com/show/6saaVGG8LhNtG...

This is the converstion I just had with Shamubeel Eaqub about the report on Social Cohesion that he has recently co-authored. 

It is a wide ranging conversation where we cover:

• How to foster Social Cohesion, one positive step each day
• The negative side and reality of poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand
• Whether some issues like education, health and housing need to be removed from the political cycle
• Superannuation and what higher ...

In this panel discussion we get to hear on Housing in Aotearoa New Zealand from the following speakers at the New Zealand Green Building Council Housing Summit held on 7 May 2025 (more on NZGBC is here):

Ali Hamlin-Paenga - Chief Executive of Te Matapihi (Site: https://www.tematapihi.org.nz) 

Cate Kearney - Chief Executive of Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (Site: https://www.ocht.org.nz) 

Paul Gilberd - Chief Executive of Communi...