POWERMOVES: A Maori Entrepreneur's Journey From the Benefit to the Boardroom

There’s this thing in New Zealand called ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ and it works like this: instead of applauding our fellow Kiwis’ success and patting them on the back, we chop them down. It’s a real thing - AND IT SUCKS!

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Tall Poppy Syndrome refers to ‘a tendency in our society to try and cut down people who are considered to be too successful or prominent (cutting the tall poppies down to size)’. If you’ve lived in New Zealand for a while you might have noticed Kiwis generally don’t like other Kiwis doing too well.

For some reason we don’t like people who are too big for their boots, or drive flash cars, or create massively successful businesses. It can even begin at school. ‘Try-hards,’ ‘nerds,’ and ‘teacher’s pets’ are all examples of Tall Poppy Syndrome. I say - STUFF THAT! This book is about starting the conversation to destroy the Tall Poppy Syndrome and saying YES TO SUCCESS. It’s ok to win - it’s ok to be successful.