Professor Christine Woods: Reflections on empowering women entrepreneurs in Aotearoa New Zealand

I have been an entrepreneurship educator for more than 20 years as an academic at the University of Auckland Business School and working directly with small and medium sized businesses through the ICEHOUSE.  One of my key learnings is to never mistake motion for progress; it is so important to take time to reflect and to continue to stay open to learning. Sometimes, in business, someone will say that they have had 20 years’ experience, but is that 20 years or just one year 20 times?

I am reflecting on my time as the Theresa Gattung Chair for Women in Entrepreneurship as I plan for the year ahead. The position was funded in 2021 by Theresa, a successful businesswoman and someone who is passionate about supporting women. Since stepping into the role, my focus has been on engagement, research and education that supports women entrepreneurs.

I have launched several initiatives, including establishing the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women (ACEW) in October 2021 . As Director of this centre, we successfully secured the opportunity to co-host the prestigious Diana International Research Conference in July 2025. This global event brings together over 100 scholars to share research on women’s entrepreneurship. It includes an impact day where we will engage with women who run their own businesses.

Professor Christine Woods

I also developed and teach a level three undergraduate course, INNOVENT 310 Women in Entrepreneurship, open to all students across the University who have completed 30 points at stage two. The course explores the challenges and opportunities women entrepreneurs face in Aotearoa-New Zealand and the assessments aligned with the CIE Velocity Challenges.  One of the ideas to come out of INNOVENT 310 this year was CycleMate, which has gone on to be selected as a finalist in the Velocity $100k Challenge.

Another initiative I am really excited about is Girls Mean Business (GMB). Before COVID, I developed an entrepreneurship programme for Year 7 and 8 girls. The focus was to create something that would inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, Covid-19 caused the programme to go on pause. But now I have a group of great young students keen to re-invigorate the programme. They have suggested a collaboration between the University of Auckland Women in Business (UAWB) and ACEW. A successful pilot programme was offered at St Cuthbert’s College last month. The programme will be re-launched on Friday, 17th November, in CIE’s Unleash Space with 60 girls from 12 schools across Auckland.

And finally, Ambition Amplify. This is another initiative that has come out of INNOVENT 310. Two students who have now graduated wanted to develop a mentoring programme for women as they transition from university into the professional world. In partnership with Oneuponedown, an online mentoring programme, Ambition Amplify runs a pilot offering with 15 mentors and mentees.

So, in true Kiwi vernacular, I would say ‘not a bad start’ for this journey. I am excited about the year ahead as we continue to work to unlock and support the entrepreneurial potential of girls and women in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Writing this is a good opportunity to share some of the highlights since taking up this role – so thank you for taking the time to read this, and if you have any questions or comments, please get in touch (cr.woods@auckland.ac.nz).

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