Dame Theresa Gattung: The Telecom CEO Who Became One of NZ's Most Powerful Women

Dom Harvey

Episode Description

If you grew up in New Zealand in the late 90s or early 2000s, chances are you’ll know that name Dame Theresa Gattung.

Theresa became the CEO of Telecom at just 37 years old. Becoming the first woman to run a large NZ public company.

And during that time, she was part of some massive decisions – including the sale of the Yellow Pages for over $2 billion… which, looking back now, was unbelievably well-timed.

Since then, she’s gone on to back and build businesses like My Food Bag, which became one of New Zealand’s biggest startup success stories… and gave her the freedom to live life more on her terms.

But this conversation isn’t just about business. We unpack it all here:

+ The mindset that helped Theresa become CEO at 37 + The reality of being a woman in leadership - then vs now + Why she chose not to have children and has no regrets. + What success looks like to her now in her 60s

And much more!

There’s some incredible perspective in this one: On leadership, on resilience, and on what actually matters when you zoom out a bit and look at the big picture.

This is Dame Theresa Gattung.

***

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Brief Summary

Dame Theresa Gatting discusses her career, personal challenges, and the importance of supporting women in business.

Key points

  • A Goody Two Shoes. Reflecting on their school days, the speaker describes themselves as a goody two shoes.
  • Life's Lessons on Independence. The speaker shares a pivotal moment that shaped their independence and financial self-reliance.
  • Overcoming Burnout. She discusses her experiences with burnout and the lessons learned about managing energy.
  • Impact of Education on Girls. Hundreds of Oakland school girls learned about entrepreneurship, inspiring future generations.
  • The Wild Transition to Fame. A personal account of becoming a household name overnight and its impact.
  • Reflections on Relationships and Career. Insights on balancing personal relationships with the demands of a high-profile career.

Ask about Dom Harvey

Episode highlights

Tension

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