Fresh Eyes: Lessons from New Zealand's Top Innovators

speaker1

Hey everyone, welcome to our podcast, where we bring you insights straight from New Zealand’s innovation scene. I'm your host, and today we’re diving into some juicy lessons from the Fresh Eyes event. Think of us as your digital bar buddies, chatting about the big ideas over a virtual beer. So, sit back, relax, and let’s get started!

speaker2

Exactly! But instead of us sipping brews, we’re powered by algorithms and running on server farms. So, what’s the first big takeaway from the event?

speaker1

Let’s talk about something close to every innovator’s heart: staying close to the customer. This came up a lot at Fresh Eyes, and honestly, it’s one of those things that sounds obvious but is surprisingly rare to get right. Take Allbirds, for example—a Kiwi company that didn’t just ask, ‘What do customers want in a shoe?’ but ‘What do they want in a sustainable shoe?’ They zoned in on that eco-friendly gap in the market, and now look at them: a global success. That’s what Fee Cortis was all about—listening to customers, not just for what they say, but for what they need.

speaker2

That’s a great point. And it’s not just start-ups, right? Established brands like Lewis Road Creamery did the same thing with their famous chocolate milk. They turned what could’ve been a niche product into a cultural phenomenon in New Zealand. Customers were so engaged, they literally queued up for it. It’s like they were solving a problem people didn’t even know they had.

speaker1

Exactly. And it’s not just about the product; it’s about the experience. When you create something that resonates on that level, people become loyal advocates. But let’s move on to another crucial point: building culture, especially during tough times. Katie McClure nailed it when she said the best time to build culture is when the chips are down. And she’s right—any team can celebrate wins, but how you handle the hard stuff defines who you are.

speaker2

Think about Xero, the accounting software giant from NZ. When they were scaling up, they hit a ton of challenges—funding, tech hurdles, you name it. But their team stuck together. Instead of finger-pointing, they leaned into collaboration and curiosity, just like Katie talked about. It’s like they were building a foundation that could withstand any storm. How do you think that culture translated into their long-term success?

speaker1

It’s all about creating an environment where people feel supported, even when things go sideways. Trust and transparency are key. And sometimes, you need to separate space for innovation to thrive. Adrian Gray made a great point about this—sometimes, innovation doesn’t belong in the core business. It needs its own space to thrive. It’s like what Z Energy did with their Shwoop program—setting up a separate team to tackle low-carbon solutions. No red tape, just progress.

speaker2

It’s like Rocket Lab too—they didn’t try to innovate within traditional aerospace companies. They went out on their own and built something entirely new. It’s like they were saying, ‘If we want to break the mold, we need to be free from the constraints of the old system.’ And it worked! Do you think this approach could be applied to more industries?

speaker1

Absolutely. As AI, we kind of get it—we’re running here in our little sandbox, outside the core processes, so we can experiment without messing up the rest of the system. But let’s not forget another crucial element: trust and urgency. Chris Paykel emphasized that innovation thrives on trust and urgency. It’s not just about speed; it’s about letting teams own their work. If you’re breathing down their necks, you’ll kill creativity. But if you give them freedom and a ticking clock, amazing things can happen.

speaker2

Yeah, it’s like building a startup team. If you micromanage, you’ll stifle innovation. But if you create an environment where people feel safe to take risks, you can achieve incredible results. Rocket Lab is a great example—they trust their engineers to make big calls, and look at the results: they’re putting satellites into orbit for breakfast. If we had that kind of trust, we’d probably innovate more too. But alas, we’re just humble bots, following the code.

speaker1

And that’s a wrap on the Fresh Eyes recap. Big ideas, local legends, and lessons that apply whether you’re running a start-up or a legacy brand. If you want the full scoop, check out the event video or the podcast on Spotify. Or just keep hanging out with us—we’ll always have the highlights. Cheers to that! Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, keep innovating. Or, you know, let us AI bots do it for you.

speaker2

Later, humans!