<p>New Zealand is known as a nation of innovation. Do you have something cool you've come up with that you think deserves to be <span data-scayt-lang="en_US" data-scayt-word="recognised">recognised</span> at the 2017 New Zealand Innovation Awards? Then enter it in the Innovation in Education, Training and Development, sponsored by Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://nzfintech.kiwi/blog">Kiwibank Fintech Accelerator</a>, a 14-week business growth programme held at Wellington’s <a href="http://creativehq.co.nz/">CreativeHQ</a> and powered by startup accelerator brand <a href="http://www.lightninglab.co.nz/">Lightning Lab</a>, held its Demo Day recently. We’re profiling the participants - this time Liberac, a fintech startup looking to make it easier for international workers to send money home to families in need. </p>
<p>It’s no secret that there’s some great female entrepreneurial minds in New Zealand – but the potential of many may still be untapped. Melissa Woods shares some insights from her time at the <a href="http://www.wwgsd.nz">Women Who Get Shit Done</a> (WWSD) Unconference weekend away in Waihi, including finding out what the hell an unconference actually is. </p>
<p>Good ideas sometimes need to be nurtured. However, not all such programmes are created equal. Do you have a kickass programme for idea acceleration or incubation that you think deserves to be recognised at the 2017 New Zealand Innovation Awards? Then enter it in the new Innovation in Systems and Performance Improvement category.</p>
<p>After a few years of sluggish growth the nation’s second biggest regional economy has kicked into gear with business confidence hitting a three year high. Local government support is fuelling growth and the booming tech sector is attracting top talent to the city. All told, Wellington’s vital signs are looking good.</p>
<p>Canada has Justin Trudeau. Wellington has Justin Lester. As one of the country’s most progressive mayors, Lester is looking to the future and embracing the digital economy, sustainable living and the importance of cultural capital. He tells Idealog why Wellington is a smart choice for those looking to get ahead in life.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://nzfintech.kiwi/blog">Kiwibank Fintech Accelerator</a>, a 14-week business growth programme held at Wellington’s <a href="http://creativehq.co.nz/">CreativeHQ</a> and powered by startup accelerator brand <a href="http://www.lightninglab.co.nz/">Lightning Lab</a>, held its Demo Day on May 19. We’re profiling the participants - this time accounting education tool AccountingPod.</p>
<p>A new report from Deloitte shows that women are still largely under-represented on corporate boards worldwide, despite continued efforts to improve boardroom gender diversity. </p>
<p>Corporate sustainability is still viewed as something to be celebrated when a business steps up. Step Changers founder Rosie Collins argues we should make it become a plain, boring expectation of every company, big or small.</p>
<p>The ascendance of New Zealand’s technology sector as a key driver of our economy’s success cannot be ignored. But for our success stories to build something better than just another Silicon Valley of the South Pacific, they need to make changes now to be better at the one thing Silicon Valley keeps failing at - diversity in the workplace, urges <a href="https://www.xero.com/nz/">Xero</a>’s Craig Hudson.</p>
<p>We all make mistakes - but by realising what our mistakes are, we can make sure our organisations don't suffer, says Sarah Pearce.</p>
<p>Amid <a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/330519/mps-reject-bill-aimed-at-revealing-gender-pay-gap">news</a> a bill that would have made businesses reveal their gender pay gap has failed, we're republishing this story.</p>
<p><em>NZ Marketing</em> magazine/StopPress and the Marketing Association invite marketers from all industries to share the strategy, thinking and results of their marketing initiatives as the call for entries opens for the 2017 TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards.</p>
<p>Networking can help you land a board role, says <a href="http://boarddynamics.co.nz/">Board Dynamics</a> CEO Henri Eliot, But, he says, there's a right - and wrong - way to go about it.</p>
<p><a href="http://paradigmshift.co.nz/">Paradigm SHIFT</a> founder Rebecca Morris says more women need to support each other in the workplace to promote equality.</p>
<p>Spark Lab is on a mission to show that it offers more than just events, so it’s pulled in Sir Ray Avery, Dame <span data-scayt-lang="en_US" data-scayt-word="Rosanne">Rosanne</span> Meo, Dr Michelle Dickinson (aka <span data-scayt-lang="en_US" data-scayt-word="Nano">Nano</span> Girl) and Eat my Lunch co-founder Lisa King for a new campaign to demonstrate the leadership and mentoring that's on offer to businesses that get involved.</p>
<p>Wendy Rayner of <a href="https://ccamatil.co.nz/">Coca-Cola Amatil NZ</a> shares tips for improving work/life balance she's learned from her years in business.</p>
<p>Idealog digital editor Ben Mack chats with <a href="https://unfiltered.co.nz/">Unfiltered</a>’s Jake Millar, who talks about raising $1.2m to expand into the US, some exciting new additions to the board of directors, and partying with Sir Richard Branson.</p>
<p>New <a href="https://nzx.com/files/static/cms-documents/256710.pdf">stats</a> from the NZX reveal not enough women are serving as directors of Kiwi businesses, with 87 percent of the roles being held by men.</p>
<p>if an organsiation is performing poorly, directors would do well to take a look at their own leadership, says <a href="http://boarddynamics.co.nz/">Board Dynamics</a> CEO Henri Eliot.</p>
<p>Innovation titans <a href="https://www.ibm.com/nz-en/">IBM</a> have moved into new offices in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. But aside from fancy new digs, the move also reflects a shift in how the company is applying design thinking.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.xero.com/nz/?lp=xero_brand&gclid=CJrDq6SD_dICFQ5-vQodh2AAKQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKnZgaWD_dICFVAllgodKeACCw">Xero</a> has reached the one million subscriber mark. But CEO Rod Drury says he’s more proud of what his company’s been doing to promote gender equality and encourage more women to go into STEM careers.</p>
<p>Emapthy has long been seen as the 'secret sauce' for business success, says <a href="http://tra.co.nz/">TRA</a>'s Antonia Mann. But it also needs to be authentic.</p>
<p>A board can make or break a business, says <a href="http://boarddynamics.co.nz/">Board Dynamics</a> CEO Henri Eliot.</p>
<p>For International Women's Day and amid a flurry of reports showing a clear bias against women in New Zealand workplaces, digital editor Ben Mack chats with <a href="https://www.xero.com/nz/">Xero</a> managing director Anna Curzon.</p>
<p>Businesses that want to be disruptive should take heed from events that happened thousands of years ago, Previously Unavailable innovation planner Theo de Monchy says. </p>
<p>Millennials have undeservedly earned a bad rep when it comes to workplace behaviour, say <a href="http://tra.co.nz">TRA</a>'s Colleen Ryan and Antonia Mann. How did this passionate and thoughtful generation get tarred with the lazy and entitled brush?</p>
<p>Where does innovation come from? And which method works best? Jihee Junn continues her look at the many and varied approaches to innovation in the second part of a new series.</p>
<p>Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Optiflow Junior provides critical support for vulnerable infants, and Chris Montague's engineering skills helped make that become a reality.</p>
<p>Keeping focused may not be easy, but there's ways to not lose concentration while still getting everything you need to get done sussed, explains Suzi McAlpine.</p>