Testimonials

Ngaire Woodhams, Oceanic Lead, Ernst & Young Wavespace
“Every time I talk to friends, colleagues, new connections about this course - I light up and get excited.. maybe even ramble! It's literally changed how I view myself and the world (both social and in a business sense) - and how I approach problem solving in the face of complexity. At times, the course and the graduate programme can take you places you don't want to go. But the result of working through that discomfort, is always so much greater. As Angela Duckworth says in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, “When you keep searching for ways to change your situation for the better, you stand a chance of finding them. When you stop searching, assuming they can’t be found, you guarantee they won”.

Sandra Clark, Principal Agile Coach, Xero
“Systems thinking, complex problem solving and sustainable working practices are phrases we hear a lot in coaching circles.  But what do they mean, how can we unpack these huge topics and learn about them? This programme delivers on all three topics- and more. It challenges the way we think about problem solving (at scale), our adaptive (or maladaptive) behaviours, the stories we tell ourselves (that may be holding us back) and the rewards we currently seek and receive. This is a powerful and challenging programme where we “walk back to ourselves” and flexibly create fresh pathways for learning, stories and rewards. It provides actual tools to make real change and help develop the skills to better navigate the complexity around us.”

Matt Owen, Chief Executive, Mycare LTD
“My 1-1 development with Tresna has enabled me to invoke my ability to understand where deep thought is required for complex problems and the power of curiosity to constantly grow.  Navigating challenging conversations or relationships in a brave way and most importantly the ability to self-reflect real time my own actions and the stories as to why others act in a certain way.”

Mel David – MYOB Aspiring Leader
“Onboarding Dr Tresna Hunt’s program 1 year ago I was looking for something, I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but I found it!  I found a deeper understanding of myself, my guiding light, and tools to navigate complex problems in an adaptable way, in a world that is changing at pace.  Tresna has been both creative supporter & curious challenger along this leadership journey, pushing me along at stages when I need a hand up and has provoked confidence with immersion in the system leadership space through experiential learning.  Working with Tresna across this time has delivered a profound shift in both my personal and professional capabilities which in turn has created many positive ripples within the systems I work in.  I am invested in creating a bright sustainable future for our people.”

”Rio Hemopo-Hunuki, Co-Founder Koi Digital Ltd, EHF Fellow
“The program gave me excellent insights and tools like greater awareness about what drives my behaviour, how my behaviour contributes to complex problem-solving, how to identify complex problems and a method for finding high quality solutions. An excellent program thank you.”

LTCDR, Malcolm Barry, Operations Training Officer, RNZN
I have learnt a new way to approach my team and myself. The programme has given me the tools to work through complex problems and find sustainable solutions. I am a better leader. 

Kahlia Pyle, Lead Researcher at Atlassian
"The course was excellent and I've recommended it to many people. Thank you so much”

Gill Hemphill, Agile Coach, Nomad 8
”As an Agile coach I often see organisations struggling with their own organisational agility. After completing the amazing [programme], I knew that this was something I wanted to keep exploring. The course was fundamental in flipping my thinking around my own personal adaptive mindset which to me was key if I was also to help others. In the Sprint programme, I have been able to dig deeper in to my own capabilities and with guidance and support the amazing Tresna, to figure out the next step on my journey.”

Tony Mangan, Project Delivery, Technology, NZ Super Fund
"Tresna's compassionate, supportive and insightful coaching has been invaluable to my personal and professional development over the past couple of years. Her infectious enthusiasm and delight for discovery has helped me see new things, or things in a new way, not as a therapist and client, but as two curious people taking an exploratory walk in an unfamiliar world." 

Paul Gatchell, Chapter Lead - Project Manager, Countdown
"The standard of the content and the thought that has gone into the structure of the programme is very very high. I enjoyed the wide range of ways that you learn about complex problem solving from all perspectives academically but also in other ways, like in depth reflection and group discussions."

Edwin Dando, Owner Radically
”My wife and I worked with Tresna during once of the most challenging times of our lives. We had a very challenging situation to work through created by something out of our control. We felt helpless and lost. Our work with Tresna helped us work through the reality of the situation and find a path forward. Tresna didn’t solve the problem for us, but she helped us understand it better and find our own way through. Looking back, I can see how we are now in a much better situation than had this challenge not occurred! By working through the challenge and building our own adaptive reflexes, we have become more resilient. What I particularly liked about Tresna was her factual, intelligent approach. I’ve worked with other coaches who tend to offer a space to unload and unleash. Sessions with Tresna were definitely cathartic, but also focused on a practical path forward and we found this extremely valuable. I would strongly recommend anyone who is seeking to cope with the changing nature of the world to work with Tresna to build resilience and adaptability skills.”

Anna Reid, writer, Tech Futures Lab
“Being able to join a sprint cycle programme to hone in with heightened awareness on capabilities I want to develop and evolve is enriching - almost indulgent. It's allowing me space to truly explore and work on what's important to me and my future."

Michael Payne, Therapist, Gisborne
”I have worked with Tresna for 3 years, providing supervision for my role as a therapist focusing on process-oriented therapy. Tresna has provided me with a firm grounding in my knowledge of this process, and with humour, intelligence and experience has guided me to become more confident and effective in my work with clients. This has been a great experience for me.”

Reena Rana, Program Manager at INTELLIHUB
"Systems Thinking provides a holistic view of the business, not only by defining the interdependencies and interactions of its parts but also by unrevealing the emergent values and synergies that are created through these bonds. Systems Thinking brings a simple, reliable, and repeatable rigor thereby offering a higher level of agility, admittedly a desirable attribute for reaching an organization’s desired outcomes more quickly and completely. Leaders need an ability to step back and “zoom-out” to gain a broader perspective and then “zoom in” again to decide what to do next."

Layamon Blakewell, SME Business Owner
The programme has opened my eyes to an entirely new way of thinking and approach to problem-solving. A critical insight has been the ability to develop an understanding of the underlying stories that shape our perspectives and approaches to complex situations. This programme is essential learning for all people in leadership, and I highly recommend it…I got a lot out of it, and can honestly say it was the most life changing education I have ever attended. My new found ability to apply an agile mindset to all situations, and change the story is going to be something that benefits me for life.”

MORE TESTIMONIALS FROM THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

“The course was a life changer for me... please do more!”

“A course that had a profound effect on me in how we adaptively grow as individuals, organisations and society with adaptive, honest, diverse and an inclusive approach.”

“It is so well designed and a beautiful learning experience.”

”Programme as a whole, it has been amazing. The picture that came into my mind was a jigsaw puzzle with lots of pieces… what the programme provided for me was that jigsaw piece that ties all the strings together. It has given me a completely different perspective on a whole range of areas that I have been working in.”

“I know I still have a lot to learn, and things will change in different situations and teams, but I think that is part of the beauty in how the course has been structured is that it is much more fluid and agile - it’s not like there is one hard and fast rule.”

“I really appreciated…how you structured that exercise to blend what we had just learned with what we already knew a bit about. I had always been wondering how to connect it to the real world, but I think it was powerful as a group getting to see how it connects to things we know about. As a way of learning, I think it was really cool.”

“I really appreciated how the course was layered week by week… it was a new language for me.. Every single week I felt like it was a lot…. It was important to stop and reflect. Right now, thinking back to some of the first weeks, I think, that is in my mind now, whereas before it was totally new to me….I would do this course all over again because I feel like I would have all these new learnings, but what the presentation taught me was that actually I can do it myself by following the process.”

“When I approached this course, I didn’t realise I would have such huge learning about my personal life. I think that was an unexpected outcome for me. Complex problem solving is all around us, and I probably had more personal ah ha moments about how to use these tools in my life than I expected it would. It was an unexpected outcome, but beautiful.”

“I’d really like to see young people on this programme… They are the future. They have an ability to learn and be agile.”