Episodes
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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 tv news for his insights, opinions and experiences in tech.
Lani hails from a family of ten kids, who were all moved to NZ from Samoa by parents who had a vision for their kids, and worked hard to make it work. Tune in to hear how Lani is paying his parents back for their sacrifices & extending their legacy in lands and spaces they had never seen.
A man of faith, Lani shares some stories about the grace and will of God over his life, and the impact on him! Hallelujah.
Lani Refiti Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaniRefiti
Lani Refiti LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lrefiti/
IoTSec: https://www.iotsec.net.au/
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Leilani Tamu is an afakasi Samoan woman, born and raised in Auckland and currently Manager of Pacific Policy at MBIE (NZ). With a broad range of experiences across her hobbies, career and travels, the thread that weaves through all of these is that of tautua/service.
A former diplomat, published poet, Fullbright creative alumna, columnist and social commentator and much more, Leilani is the eldest daughter of a Palagi dad and Samoan mother. She herself is a proud wife to Shane and a mother of two.
Thanks Leilani for an honest and uplifting talanoa, and for all the trailblazing work you've done and that which is yet to come. Fa'afetai lava.
Links:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leilani_Tamu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leilanitamu?lang=en
Spinoff Article: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/22-08-2020/my-childhood-was-branded-by-shame-ill-no-longer-let-it-define-me/
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Missing episodes?
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Dr Siautu Alefaio-Tugia: Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Massey University (NZ).
Dr Siautu has worked across education, prisons, disaster recovery (including being a lead in the COVID-19 response in NZ), health, social services and community.
A practitioner and academic, she theorises and practices to re-inform psychology from Pacific-indigenous knowledge frameworks.
With a PhD from Monash University, Siautu comes from a family of community servants who were early Pasifika settlers in Papakura. Her father was Faifeau of Papakura PIC and a visionary who along with his wife created community initiatives that ran from their own backyard in collaboration with other Kaumatua and community members.
This is a story of a woman who leads with her heart and spirit in a discipline that focuses on (and is often limited to) the brain.
Thanks Siautu, you're too awesome and we appreciate you for who you are and all you do.
Links:
Massey University Profile: https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/expertise/profile.cfm?stref=954040
Watson Institute Profile: https://watson.brown.edu/chrhs/people/siautu-alefaio-tugia
NIUPatCH: https://www.niupatch.com/
Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/niupsych -
Rob Poleki is an inventor & entrepreneur whose business idea was literally birthed in a restroom (WASHIE PRODUCTS).
A Samoan born in NZ, raised in Hawaii and now resident in Idaho USA, Rob is following his parent's courageous footsteps by traversing places and spaces he has never been in before - with full confidence that he's going to win!
Tune in to hear how this uso went from Manurewa (Sth Auckland, NZ) to elected official to entrepreneur and LinkedIn star.... and scarily, the story is just beginning for him, his wife and their four kids.
Can't stop, won't stop - let's go WASHIE.
Check out these links:
Washie Products: https://www.washieproducts.com/
Washie on Insta: www.instagram.com/washie_products
Rob Poleki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poleki/
Thanks to the uso Rob Poleki for jumping on.
Keep going - R E W A to the moon.
#Washie #WashieProducts #RobPoleki #Idaho #Hawaii #SouthAuckland #Manurewa #inventor #entrepreneur #polypodcast #Polypreneur #PasifikaSuccess -
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Australian & QLD Reds rugby) - our youngest guest at 23 years of age. An elite athlete who weâve brought on because of his obvious success in sport, but also because he has proven leadership and maturity beyond his years.
As the eldest of 7 kids, Lukhanâs priorities are clear. Although Lukhan has hit the highest level of rugby, family still comes first, and this was proven when he famously declined Wallaby selection soon after the passing of his father to remain at home with his family.
Tune in to hear about Lukhanâs road to repping his country, but also his thoughts on the state of play in many other areas relevant to youth.
QLD Reds: https://reds.rugby/
Australian Rugby: https://australia.rugby/
NZ Warriors: https://www.warriors.kiwi/
Nas: https://www.nasirjones.com/
Methodman: https://methodman.bandcamp.com/
Cydel:https://www.youtube.com/c/GroovehouseBaby/featured
Thanks Lukhan and all the best: Up the REDS (and Chiefs) -
Alex Fala (Samoan-Kiwi) is a Pacific Rhodes Scholar whose held leadership positions in high-flying companies such as McKinseys,Trade Me and Les Mills International. Until recently, Alex was the CEO of Vend.
An afakasi Samoan who was born in Palmerston North and grew up in Masterton and Wellington, Alex was raised in a family that valued confidence, humility, leadership and excellence.
Alex graduated out of the University of Auckland with a BCom with First Class Hons, and used his Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University in England to write a thesis titled: âSaving the Samoan Culture: Sustainability of Gift-giving Traditions in the NZ-Samoan Community"
A captivating story of burning ambition, humility and âmaking big playsâ
Feel free to reach out to Alex via LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderfala/
More info:
Alex Fala: 40 Under 40: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/alumni/our-alumni/40-under-40/40-under-40--business-leaders/alex-fala.html
St Patricks College: https://www.stpats.school.nz/
Rhodes Scholarship: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/
Perform Under Pressure (Ceri Evans): https://drcerievans.nz/perform-under-pressure/?fbclid=IwAR0DiR3hggGO32U8WRxpWEDq75wraTzAAyI6yQ3H1zoenuWiE3RUgsRBWyc
Thanks and congrats Alex & aiga! -
Karena is a Samoan-Kiwi who is currently the Vice President & Director of Research at the East-West Center and Director of the Pacific Island Development Program (PIDP).
Prior to this she worked as one of NZ's youngest ambassadors as ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau and was the Consul General to Hawaii.Karena has also represented NZ at the UN Security Council as a Negotiator, and before that worked as a commercial lawyer and worked in higher education for a period of time.
An inspiring woman whose broken glass ceilings and ankles on her journey through some really pivotal positions - and the best is yet to come.
East-West Center: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/
PIDP:https://pidp.eastwestcenter.org -
David Solomona is a former NRL (Roosters/Eels) & Super League (Wakefield/Bradford/Warrington) star, with a career that spanned over a decade. David is from great football stock - with 4 uncles playing for Samoa (including Toa Samoa's very first captain), as well as 3 family members playing in the NRL.
He also had the rare distinction of playing both front-row forward as well as play-maker at the highest level for the NZ Kiwis in their win against the almighty Australian Kangaroos.
David is currently working in the all-important Wellbeing and Education space supporting NRL players with post-career paths and providing pastoral care. A man of integrity, David genuinely cares about others and is the perfect fit for this role.
Tune in to hear how David is giving back to the game that took him across the globe and back again, chasing a dream and an opportunity to represent and provide for his wife Utu and their three daughters.
David - the walking contradiction: the laid-back yet fierce competitor and barnstorming playmaker. Damannnnn. -
Noa'ia! Our first Rotuman guest Lisa was born in Fiji and her parents moved her and her siblings to NZ around the time of the 1987 coup. The coup was an volatile and unpredictable time for many in Fiji, and with the help of a generous Kiwi couple, the family relocated to NZ where her dad would work as a mechanic out in West Auckland!
Lisa has worked her way up the chain at Deloitte and is now Associate Director where she is splitting her time between management, strategy and doing the mahi. One of her more recent projects is an in-house Pasifika staff network she is leading named âPĂ„s Peau - Breaking Wavesâ
Lisa is married to her long-time partner and together they have two children.
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Joey âQâ Quenga is our first guest hailing from the mighty Micronesian island of Guam. âQâ hails from the village of Talofofo and grew up in Long Beach California.
He is the co-owner, producer, creative director, on-air personality and program director of âISLAND BLOCK RADIOâ based out of Hollywood, California.
Island Block Radio is part of a stable of stations under the Dash Radio brand, including ones curated by Snoop Dogg, Kylie Jenner, Lilâ Wayne and more.
Joey was a singer of popular Pacific band âCord Brownâ out of Long Beach, and is a cultural, civic, business, music, entertainment leader in California.
Follow
FACEBOOK
Island Block Radio: https://www.facebook.com/IslandBlockRadio/
On Air with Q: https://www.facebook.com/OnairwithQ/
INSTAGRAM:
Island Block Radio: https://www.instagram.com/islandblockradio/
On Air with Q: https://www.instagram.com/onairwithq/
To learn more about Micronesia:
Kava Bowl Media 'Pacific Level Up 4': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uybRlJzIDg -
Leilehua Fa'onevai (nee Helu) is a Tongan lawyer whose life revolves around her faith, family, and culture.
Married to Taniela and a mother of one (plus one on the way), Lehua serves her community through the Pasifika Lawyers Association of Queensland, Brisbane Tongan Community, the Qld Tongan Language School and Pasifika TV and Radio (amongst others). Her area of law is the all-important native title field, dealing with land and indigeneity, and outside of that she is also a Co-Director of boutique law and migration firm Trinity York
Not content with that workload, Lehua and her husband have an emerging business cultivating kava in Tonga!Lehua holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts (Research) from QUT.
Check out all of Lehua's projects here:
Trinity York Legal & Migration: www.trinityyork.com.au
Feleoko ' Maui Kava: www.feleokoamaui.com
Pasifika Lawyers Association of QLD: www.plaqld.org
Brisbane Tongan Community: www.brisbanetongancommunity.com
Pasifika TV & Radio: https://www.facebook.com/pasifikatvandradio/
QLD Tongan Language School: https://www.facebook.com/QLDTonganLanguageSchool/Malo 'aupito!!
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Wayne Henry is of Cook Island/Pakeha descent, raised in Manurewa, South Auckland.
While Wayne admits he loved school but didn't thrive there, his quick wit, ability to read people and foster relationships, and resilience he gained from being raised in a large Cook Island family held him in great stead.
Hear how Wayne left school, went to the factory floor, and eventually owned his own business scaling his initial salary by over 10x.
More info:
Web: www.waynehenry.co.nz
Insta: @waynehenrymortgages
Ph: 0800 WHENRY
Meitaki Maata Wayno - proud of you my bro.
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Apollo 'The Terminator' Perelini is a dual international - having played rugby and league for Samoa. He also forged a long and successful career in the UK with St Helens Rugby League and Sale Sharks Rugby.
Upon retiring he joined the Sale Sharks coaching staff, and then returned to St Helens RL as Strength & Conditioning Coach.
For the past 10 years Apollo has been based in Dubai, UAE as a teacher, director of sport and entrepreneur.
Hear how 'The Terminator' is still making the hits beyond the field of sport... an inspirational story of global success. From Samoa to NZ to UK to UAE.
Check out Apollo on twitter, insta and facebook; and his academy (Apollo Perelini Rugby Skills Academy) at www.aprsa.com
#matautu #lefaga #manusamoa #rugby #rugbyleague #Pasifika #Samoa #PacificSuccess
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Heilala was born in Fiji, raised in Fiji, UK and NZ, and now lives in Brisbane, Australia. She is currently the Director of Business Development & Client Engagement at Corney & Lind Law.
A story of many transitions across countries, cultures, political climates and responsibilities.
Find out more about Heilala at:
Corney & Lind Lawyers: www.corneyandlind.com.auKingdom International Legal Network: www.kiln.online/kiln-2022
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Coach V is an author, keynote speaker & success coach to many of the USA's top brands & business leaders. Born in Tonga, raised in California, Coach V was a successful football coach before becoming a brand unto himself. He now coaches multinational corporations and high-flying business people to further their success.
Follow Coach V on:
Facebook http://facebook.com/coachviliami
Instagram http://instagram.com/coachviliami
Twitter http://twitter.com/coachviliami
Website http://coach-v.com -
Assoc. Prof. Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa is the Pacific's first Rhodes Scholar, a prize-winning author & currently Pro Vice Chancellor at University of Auckland.
Hear about his journey that took him from blue-collar Glen Innes, to the prestigious Oxford University, across to the University of Michigan, and back to Auckland to lead NZ's largest university.
Knowledge bombs and insights galore - tune in.
Co-hosted by Andrew Fa'avale & John Tapu
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After 22 years at Sky TV, John boldly jumped out of a comfortable job and started his own broadcasting, media & agent company. Hear how he went from CSR to CEO, after leaving the zone of comfort for the zone of living.
www.kavabowlmedia.com
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Host Andrew Fa'avale provides an overview of why he started the podcast, who he will be targeting to chat to, and how to access and share each show.
