Kia ora, I’m Naketa
I’ve had a bunch of jobs, worked with leaders all over the world, and somehow I keep coming back to the same thing…
People.
They can be the best part of leadership — and some days, the hardest.
We get taught how to do our jobs, but not always how to understand ourselves, understand the people around us, or what to do when the people stuff gets messy.
That’s the bit I’m interested in.
NICE TO MEET YOU
The people part is the work
We get taught how to do the job, but leadership is something a lot of us are simply expected to figure out.
So we copy what we’ve seen, carry too much, jump in and fix, and sometimes forget to take a beat and think about how we’re showing up.
That’s where my work sits. I help leaders understand themselves better, get curious about the people around them, and have better conversations when the people stuff gets hard.
Understand Yourself
Get clearer on who you are as a leader, what shapes you, and how you show up with others.
Understand Your People
Get curious about what helps people thrive, what they need, and how to bring out their best.
Have better conversations
Build confidence to listen, ask better questions, give feedback, and have the kōrero that matter.
Our Story
Cultivating Culture was founded by us, Naketa and Murray, after years of working in education, leadership and with people in all sorts of roles and places.
Between us, we’ve seen a lot of leadership in real life. Not just the strategy, systems and job descriptions, but the people part, the conversations, relationships, identity, values and everyday moments that shape how people experience leadership.
We both believe people bring far more to the table than we sometimes make room for. Leadership is not about creating mini versions of ourselves. It is about creating the conditions for people to belong, contribute and have room to grow.
That belief sits at the heart of Cultivating Culture, helping leaders take a beat, understand themselves, get curious about the people around them, and lead in a way that feels true to who they are.
"Naketa listens beyond the words and asks questions that lead to real self-discovery and growth."
- Coaching client
"Coaching with Naketa gave me clarity and affirmation about my next steps as a leader and professional."
- Coaching client
"I’ve learned strategies to work through challenges with more confidence, and the support has been invaluable."
- Coaching client
Why Cultivating Culture Exists
Vision
Lead self. Lead others. Lead together.
Mission
Grow leadership through better conversations.
How we work
Be interested, not interesting.
Be useful, not the hero.
Relationships first.
Don’t steal the learning.
Stay open. Keep learning.
Nurture people. Grow leadership. Thrive together.
A little something for the people part of leadership, straight to your inbox.
A few times a week, I’ll send you a short thought, a useful question, or a practical idea to help you understand yourself, understand your people, and have better conversations.
You’re safe with me. I’ll only send things I think are worth your time, and your details stay yours.