Sue Watson
on Connected Leadership
Sue Watson lives on Waiheke Island, where she shares her home with women of many ages and cultures. Sustainability, for her, “literally is blooming in my food forest and garden at my home on Waiheke Island. I grow as much food as possible, live a life of simple abundance and share my home with other women.” This foundation of generosity and care flows into her work, guiding her efforts to support women leaders, advocate for social housing, and strengthen community equity.
Her personal motto, “Me aro koe ki te hā o Hineahuone. Respect for women is utmost,” reflects how deeply she roots her leadership in respect, connection, and service. Becoming a single mother shaped her understanding of vulnerability: “all of us can experience vulnerability and need the support of others. Once we are back on our feet it is then our turn to give to others.”
Sue sees the greatest challenge in her sector as “the roll-back of initiatives in the diversity and inclusion space,” yet she feels fortunate to be supported by her professional and personal communities. She also draws inspiration from Te Ao Māori, participating at her local marae, Piritahi, where she learns “through the generosity and manaakitanga of the marae whānau.”
For Sue, engaging with sustainability is inseparable from the social dimension: “Don’t forget the ‘s’: it stands for social and encompasses the human dimensions of sustainability. True sustainability is grounded in a deep respect for the diversity of the human experience and a commitment to equity and inclusion.” She believes Aotearoa’s superpower is what we can learn from Tangata Whenua: “Māori learned how to live sustainably in this new land and have so much to teach us about how to live with deep respect and attunement to the taiao, the natural world, and to each other.”
Sue’s advice for today’s change-makers is simple and practical: “Find or build a community of belonging for support, advice and challenge. It is hard to lead alone.”
Read Sue’s answers to Blooming Sustainability’s full questionnaire for more insights on connected leadership and creating community impact.
BLOOMING Sustainability Questionnaire
Name: Sue Watson
Company & Title: Director, Connected Leadership
Website & LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuewatson/
* Guiding Values | Kaupapa
If sustainability were a flower blooming in your life, what would it look like? What nurtures it?
It literally is blooming in my food forest and garden at my home on Waiheke Island. I grow as much food as possible, live a life of simple abundance and share my home with other women. This is a foundation for the work I do in my business and the work of service I do to ensure the sustainability and diversity of my community.
A quote, personal motto or whakataukī that reflects your vision:
Me aro koe ki te hā o Hineahuone. Respect for women is utmost.
If you could mentor a rising change-maker in Aotearoa, what advice would you share?
Firstly and lastly, get super clear about your purpose grounded in your story and whakapapa. That is the foundation for leading change.
* Leading Change | Arataki
A key moment in your journey that shaped your path:
Unexpectedly becoming a single mother and understanding that all of us can experience vulnerability and need the support of others. Once we are back on our feet it is then our turn to give to others.
What’s the main challenge you face in driving sustainability within your sector?
The roll-back of initiatives in the diversity and inclusion space.
An area you need more support with:
I am fortunate to be well supported by my professional and personal communities.
An Indigenous perspective you admire and want people to be mindful of:
I identify as Tangata Tiriti and hold a deep respect and gratitude for Te Ao Māori. I am blessed to participate and belong to Piritahi, my local marae, where I can learn and serve through the generosity and manaakitanga of the marae whānau.
Your best approach for engaging stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about ESG:
Don’t forget the ‘s’: it stands for social and encompasses the human dimensions of sustainability. True sustainability is grounded in a deep respect for the diversity of the human experience and a commitment to equity and inclusion.
What do you think is Aotearoa’s superpower in creating a sustainable future?
What we can learn from Tangata Whenua. Māori learned how to live sustainably in this new land and have so much to teach us about how to live with deep respect and attunement to the taiao, the natural world, and to each other.
* Surfing the Green Wave | Kakariki
Books, podcasts, courses or other resources that profoundly shaped your approach to sustainability:
Aroha: Maori Wisdom For A Contented Life Lived In Harmony With Our Planet, by Dr Hinemoa Elder
Events in Aotearoa or globally that you think are must-attend:
I am reluctant to endorse international travel unless absolutely necessary. Covid taught us that we can participate well virtually. In Aotearoa the ecofest is a great event to participate in at a local level.
A sustainable initiative or project in Aotearoa that deserves more attention:
The food system. I highly recommend the work of my friend Emily King who is an expert based in NZ who advocates for a better global food system. She advocates for all of us to get involved in local food projects from production, distribution and waste management. Her book Re-Food’ is a must read.
If your work could plant one seed of change for the future, what would it be?
Be generous with what you have and create pathways for others.
The leader(s) you endorse for a future edition of Blooming Sustainability:
Emily King from Spira
* One actionable takeaway for our readers to make a change today for a brighter tomorrow:
Find or build a community of belonging for support, advice and challenge. It is hard to lead alone.
