Global Pasifika Success Podcast
Hear stories from successful Pasifika people across the globe (the good, bad and ugly) so that our listeners can listen, learn and be inspired to live their best lives too. Pasifika people have much to contribute to the world – if you’re needing some inspiration to get to that next level in life, TUNE IN.
Episodes
After building a career in professional rugby with the Queensland Reds, Gavin Luka took a leap of faith that changed the course of his life.
At just 29, he now leads Nexus Alliance as CEO in the Philippines, applying the discipline, resilience, and team-first mindset he developed on the rugby field to the business world. In this episode, Gavin shares how embracing opportunity, trusting hard work over luck, and ...
Kevin Alo is a brand strategist, former lawyer and one of Papua New Guinea's leading voices in modern marketing and business transformation.
After beginning his career in corporate law, Kevin transitioned into marketing, where he has spent more than a decade helping some of Papua New Guinea's largest organisations build stronger brands, connect with customers and embrace innovation. His experience spans legal p...
Lorna McPherson is one of Papua New Guinea’s most influential sports and business leaders. Having lived and worked in PNG for more than 16 years, she has built an impressive career spanning telecommunications, government relations, marketing, and professional sport.
In January 2026, Lorna was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the PNG Chiefs Rugby League club by the Australian Rugby League Commission. Prior t...
Abigail Tere-Apisah is one of Papua New Guinea’s most accomplished tennis players. Born and raised in Port Moresby, she earned tennis scholarships that took her from the ITF Academy in Fiji to the Margaret Court Tennis Academy in Australia, and later to Georgia State University in the United States, where she competed as the team’s No. 1 player and graduated with a degree in Exercise Science.
A former pro...
Jason Venu is the Founder and MD of Coversure Insurance. South Auckland-raised and of Samoan descent, Jason jumped out of employee-mode and into entrepreneur-mode following an insurance career spanning over 10 years.
Coversure is now an award-winning and global operation, all sparked from Jason's insatiable curiosity, courage to reach out for help, and a deep desire to ensure people "live life, covered"...
Willie Leota is a Christchurch-based mortgage broker who is passionate about helping people achieve home ownership and wealth creation. Willie's pathway to his dream career has seen him work at various financial institutions in and amongst pursuing a rugby career in NZ and abroad. Interestingly, Willie and his wife also sold all of their belongings and headed to Samoa to volunteer with Samoa Victim Support Group and...
Fiso John Fiso (ONZM) is the Director of Fiso Investment Group based in Wellington NZ – a private Pacific fund that focuses on property development, health, education, hospitality, wellness and imports/exports.
The son of migrant parents from Samoa, John was raised in Wellington and attended the almighty Rongotai College before moving to Dunedin to study phys-ed and economics at Otago University.
Aft...
Lana Carter is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Lavenia Law - a law firm that is focused on wills and legacy planning.
Lana was born and raised in Porirua Wellington and is of Samoan and Maori heritage. She now resides in Brisbane with her husband and two kids. Following the death of her mother at just 44 years of age and her experience at her mother's funeral, Lana has focused her professional...
Tovia Va'aelua is husband to Linda and a father of four. He is a technology expert with over 20 years of experience across the globe. Falling into tech after graduating from university with an education degree, Tovia climbed the ranks in NZ across companies such as Datacom and Microsoft before relocating to the Philippines to take up a leadership position at Microsoft. Having achieved his professional and fami...
Kale is of Maori heritage and was born in Brisbane Australia. From his own account, he had a pretty rough upbringing in Australia and it sounds like his saving grace was his mother’s decision to relocate to Clyde in Central Otago NZ to get away start afresh. Kale seemed to have thrived in Clyde at school and through uni and then went onto become a PT.
Keven is a former All Black captain and the third All Black centurion in history - a record that speaks to his physical, mental and spiritual fortitude. One of the toughest to play the game, Keven's humility and character reflects a loving family upbringing and environment. Post-playing Keven went into business opening his own Fit60 gym in South Auckland with another business alongside wife Latai in the making.
<...
Rama was born in Fiji, raised in New Zealand and is currently the Director of Rugby Development at Georgia Rugby Union.
Rama has lived across the globe mostly via rugby across Europe, Australia, Middle East, NZ and now Georgia. He was previously employed by the Queensland Rugby Union and Rugby Australia before being headhunted by Georgia Rugby.
A coaches coach, Rama has great insights into fostering hu...
Former Flying Fijian captain Deacon Manu joins us on Ep 25. A man who has played rugby at the highest level, Deacon is proof that diverse interests and pursuits provides a robust platform for success in all areas of life.
Having played nearly 70 caps for the mighty Waikato Chiefs, Deacon left NZ for Wales where he played a whopping 154 times for the Llanelli Scarlets. It was from here he was selected to...
Meet lawyer and entrepreneur Jennifer Samuta! From a remote island village in Fiji to the helm of Samuta McComber Lawyers, Jennifer's journey is an inspiring tale of determination and success. Her migration law expertise, coupled with her commitment to empower Pasifika communities, makes her a true trailblazer. Join us as we dive into her story where hard work, family, and passion intersect.
Website: Samuta ...
Max’s proudest accomplishment is being Husband and father of 3.
He studied Accounting while playing football and winning a national championship in Rugby at the University of Utah. Forgoing the accounting route, he went into sales and management where he was a top producer taking his office from $2M to $10M revenue in less than 4 years. After 5 years working in corporate, he took the entrepreneur leap, qui...
Bernard is Samoan based in Sydney and a husband and father of six. He has owned his successful insurance brokerage for almost a decade while continuing to serve and lead the Pacific community in New South Wales. Bernard's story is one of goal-setting, doing what you have to do to achieve those goals (even if it includes huge paycuts while providing for his family), and attaining goals alongside and in partnership wi...
Dr Michael is a NZ-born Samoan academic based at BYU-Hawaii (USA). His father started the first Polynesian funeral service in Auckland, Ligaliga Funeral Services, and Michael is himself pioneering in his own life - specifically in exploring traditional Pacific knowledges and how they can add-value to contemporary and future societies. Why is this important? Because Pacific peoples are truly global citizens, living i...
Steven Gillette hustled tirelessly on the railways across Australia away from home for nearly 10 years. Using his natural abilities to foster relationships as well as a high work ethic, he then took the leap into creating his own multi-million dollar railway business.
Take a listen to Steven's story of parental role-modelling, smart hustle, taking courage and the grace of God which has led him to provide for...
Since our last show on the 21st of September 2020, we've been missing in action. Andrew takes this show to explain why the podcast was halted, he reviews some of the successes of past guests since they appeared on the podcast, and previews some of the upcoming guests.
Great to be back in the swing of podcasts, and hope the stories of our amazing guests will provide some real value for your success.
Fak...
Lani Refiti was born in Samoa, raised in NZ and now lives in Australia. A father of six, his tech career started while selling shoes at Myers in Parramatta, and from there he has consulted all over the globe in emerging tech.
Until recently, Lani was Partner at Deloitte leading in Emerging Tech and is currently consulting to tech start-up companies. A thought-leader in tech, Lani is regularly interviewed on t...
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