Event Recap: Women in Business October 2025

Women in Business | October 2025

On Thursday 9 October, Business Canterbury hosted an inspiring Women in Business forum, proudly supported by Cambridge Partners and NZME. The event brought together more than 200 professionals to explore what it means to be a woman in business today, reflecting on progress made, the challenges that remain, and the opportunities ahead to reshape workplaces for the better.

The discussion was guided by Leeann Watson, Chief Executive of Business Canterbury, and featured three powerhouse leaders: Dr Angela Lim (Chief Executive, Clearhead), Megan Welch (Chief Executive, Kathmandu), and Brooke Roberts (Director and 3EO, Sharesies).

A look inside our Women in Business Event

The Conversation

Dr Angela Lim shared her journey from paediatrics to tech entrepreneurship, founding Clearhead to make mental health support accessible to everyone. Today, Clearhead supports 15% of New Zealand’s employee population with free therapy. She spoke candidly about the need for leaders to model wellbeing behaviours - because culture is set by example, not policy.

Brooke Roberts described the early days of building Sharesies, founded to democratise investing and create financial empowerment for all. She reflected on the importance of redefining success while balancing family life, coining the term “confidence wobbles” to describe moments of self-doubt that are best met with curiosity and self-compassion.

Megan Welch drew on her global leadership experience to highlight the power of clear direction and psychologically safe workplaces. She encouraged leaders to find meaning in the hard parts of the journey and to regularly audit their time to stay focused on what matters most.

Key Themes

Several strong themes emerged from the discussion:

• Lead by example: Wellbeing and balance must be visible at the top to take hold across an organisation.
• Articulate ambition: Women were encouraged to make their career goals known and actively pursue leadership opportunities.
• Build your network: Resilience thrives in community, within teams, industries, and personal circles.
• Prioritise movement: Physical activity and time outdoors are essential ingredients for sustainable leadership.
• Challenge imposter syndrome: Replace “Can I?” with “Why not me?” and celebrate wins along the way.

The panelists also spoke to the evolving nature of leadership in 2025, one that values flexibility, trust, and authenticity. Whether through hybrid work, mental health initiatives, or transparent communication, the message was clear: businesses thrive when people do.

Thanks to our event supporters:

👉 Keep an eye on our What’s On page for more upcoming events like this.