Everyone Has a Story – Even Me

I’ve always believed that everyone has a story. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you do for a living – your story matters. Through my tech podcast and my work at HainesAttract, I’ve seen this play out again and again. The funny part? For years, I never thought to tell mine.

My journey has taken me into all kinds of places and introduced me to people from every walk of life. I’ve worked with business owners, CEOs and leaders, medical professionals, Engineers, grads, local and central Govt, food producers, tourism operators, security services, local iwis to cleaners and labourers. I’ve spent time in retirement villages, hospitals, airports, manufacturing plants, local medical providers, farms, courts, remote communities, bustling cities, sports grounds, the depths of industrial plants and the heights of skyscrapers. I’ve even found myself in prison (don’t worry – that one was work-related, and it was in New Zealand, not Singapore!).

What I’ve learned is that every one of these people and places has a story worth telling. Along the way, I’ve picked up what people sometimes call a “unique set of skills” – not because I planned it, but because I’ve been lucky enough to work on so many different projects with incredible people across the globe.

At HainesAttract, I get to put those skills into action. My role is about shaping Employer Brand projects and talent attraction campaigns with @Dan Phillips – using art, creativity, and technology to tell people-centric stories. That work has taken me all across New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. 

It’s a team effort, I work with exceptional people, supported by a network of what I like to call “high-level operators” – from cinematographers and editors to web developers and creatives. Together, we create the kind of employer brands and campaigns that make people stop, listen, and feel something real.

And yes, I do keep a go-bag packed. Because when the story calls, I want to be ready.

Everyone has a story. This one just happens to be mine.