<p>Everyone loves a list (even if it's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F53rGneGY60">about the worst lists</a>) and, <a href="https://mostinnovative.com.au/the-process/">after more than 1000 nominations,</a> a number of New Zealand companies have managed to impress our neighbours and earn places and special awards in the Australian Financial Review's Most Innovative Companies. </p>
<p>Founder and chief executive of Inspiring Stories Trust, Guy Ryan wants to help young New Zealanders find their potential and change the world. Winner of the University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year award in 2015, Ryan is determined to help others, setting up the national event <a href="https://www.festivalforthefuture.org.nz/">Festival for the Future</a> (which is taking place this weekend), the Future Leaders programme and the Inspiring Speakers bureau among other initiatives. Idealog asks him about technology, the future, starting your career and supporting entrepreneurs. </p>
<p>GirlBoss’ Alexia Hilbertidou and Trade Me are on a quest to find the next Kate Sheppard, Jacinda Ardern, and/or Lorde. Say hello to the GirlBoss Awards.</p>
<p>Matariki is the word on every New Zealander’s lips this winter. From Auckland Council’s three-week Matariki festival to Wellington managing to summon a whale into the harbour, naming it Matariki and having to postpone the first annual Matariki fireworks display because of it, people are starting to celebrate the M?ori New Year more than ever before. Here's how several local businesses, including ANZ and Isthmus, are marking the occasion. </p>
<p>Our regular roundup of recent deals done and/or did, featuring movements at the Skin Institute, ColabNZ, Little Giant, Bambi Boutique and RJ's. </p>
<p>Idealog's agony uncle, David Downs, answers your burning questions about whether New Zealand has a design story (and whether it matters) and why Allbirds is his favourite example of great New Zealand design. </p>
<p>Jon Macdonald, CEO of Trade Me for over a decade, has announced plans to step down from the leadership role. Macdonald chats about the reason behind the departure and what he hopes to get from his new path.</p>
<p>Following criticisms from earlier years, the New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards have been on a journey to make the awards night a more diverse affair. This year, they succeeded, but Hi-Tech Awards trustee Helen Shorthouse says the job is far from over. Here, she recaps the awards night and explains the work the organisation is doing to ensure it continues to improve. </p>
<p>Our regular roundup of recent deals done and/or did.</p>
<p>Two sets of proposals advocating for better urban design in New Zealand have been pitched at the Government in quickfire succession since this year's Urbanism New Zealand conference. Here, Stephen Olsen takes a look at what conference delegates and the NZIA have separately offered up. </p>
<p>Our regular roundup of recent deals done and/or did.</p>
<p>Our regular roundup of recent deals done and/or did.</p>
<p>Often feared as the Freddy Krueger of the business world, disruption is something that strikes fear into the hearts of business leaders everywhere. But, as TRA's Amber Coulter asks, is it really something we should fear?</p>
<p>Flick Electric software engineer Rose Lu has often been the sole woman or sole non-white person in the room in her career, and recently assisted with Flick's hiring process for new engineers. Here, she shares some key learnings on how to hire for diversity – and how to get around the obstacles that often pop up.</p>
<p>If New Zealand is going to be able to remain globally competitive in the future, our thinking around tech needs to include art and creativity, says Accenture's Justin Gray.</p>
<p>Following the <a href="https://techweek.co.nz/whats-on/2018/changing-the-world-with-creativity-and-innovation-485/">Changing the World with Creativity and Innovation</a> event at Techweek, which celebrates Auckland's unique creative sector, we spoke with associate director of Unleash Space Darsel Keane about how important it is for students to see that creativity is diverse, inclusive and spans many industries, as well as the rise in interest of social enterprises from a school and university level. </p>
<p>Our regular roundup of recent deals done and/or did.</p>
<p>The call for entry to the TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards has opened and the Marketing Association and NZ Marketing/StopPress want marketers of all industries to show their strategy, thinking and results.</p>
<p><span data-scayt-lang="en_US" data-scayt-word="Abbie">Abbie</span> Reynolds, executive director of the <a href="http://www.sbc.org.nz/">Sustainable Business Council</a>, shares what she's learned two years into her role - and why caring for the environment and communities is more important than ever.</p>
<p>Danica Paki is Head of Client Services and part of the leadership team at <a href="https://www.littlegiant.co.nz/">Little Giant</a>, an agency that was recently named New Zealand’s Digital Agency Of The Year and rating number one (twice) in a survey published in the March issue of NZ Marketing magazine. In an ever-changing industry, Paki delves into modern management, working with millennials and the importance of emotional intelligence.</p> <p></p> <p></p>
<p>Work from top Master of Architecture students in <span data-scayt-lang="en_US" data-scayt-word="Aotearoa">Aotearoa</span> is on display outside Victoria University of Wellington’s Architecture and Design campus in central Wellington.</p>
<p>Bridget Ellis-Pegler and Ronel Schodt, creators of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zingoshidevelopment">The Zingoshi Chronicles</a>, chat about their new multimedia venture, using tech to get young people away from tech, letting kids be kids, what the support of the likes of Theresa Gattung, Dame Julie Christie and Cecilia Robinson means, integrating STEAM and entertainment, and more.</p>
<p>Smales Farm has launched the <a href="https://idealog.co.nz/venture/2018/04/introducing-idealog-bhive-race-space">Race for Space</a>, a competition for entrepreneurs, start-ups and early stage small businesses to win a year’s free office space at the brand new B:HIVE, New Zealand’s largest and smartest co-working building on Auckland’s beautiful North Shore. And this panel of business luminaries will be choosing the winner. </p>
<p>Little Giant art director Becca O'Shea is part of the leadership team at <a href="https://www.littlegiant.co.nz/">Little Giant</a>, an agency that was recently named New Zealand’s Digital Agency Of The Year. She was an also a interactive judge at last year’s Best Design Awards. Here, she shares why businesses who focus on designing remarkable brand experiences come out on top. </p>
<p>A roundup of some of the deals done and/or did.</p>
<p>A new government always means a bit of a shake-up when it comes to policies. Postdoctoral research associate in Urban Governance at the University College of London, Jenny McArthur, shares her analysis of the government's urban design plans for New Zealand, as well as whether the country's smaller towns and cities are getting a look in.</p>
<p>Ann-Marie Cavanagh, chief technology and digital services officer for the Ministry of Health, discusses a new Callaghan Innovation report on AI and how technology is affecting health care - and how the Ministry of Health is embracing technology.</p>
<p>There's no question design is having a moment. Fortune 500 companies are hiring chief design officers and investing in design and innovation centres, and even traditional corporates are getting in on the action. At the forefront of this is Silicon Valley based Airbnb, the online marketplace for people to lease short-term accommodation. Founded by designers Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky and co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk in 2008, the company is now a behemoth, valued at US$31 billion and located in 190 countries. On a recent trip to Auckland for the Better By Design CEO Summit, Airbnb's Jenny Arden (an IDEO, Google and YouTube alumni) chats with us all things design. </p>
<p>Louisa McClure dispenses sage wisdom about taking risks, not waiting, and giving things a go.</p>