What better way to start our Women in Business bumper feature than a sit-down with legendary Kiwi leader, Theresa Gattung. Though perhaps best known as Telecom’s first female – and youngest – CEO, Theresa is a titan of multiple industries having co-founded My Food Bag and chaired the likes of Wool Partners International and AIA Australia.
Theresa has also been involved with several non-profits including recently co-founding, along with her sister, Angela, the Gattung Foundation, to help young women and animals in need, and published a bestselling memoir, Bird On a Wire. She’s been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and also serves as chair of Global Women, whose mission is to “catalyse New Zealand’s social and economic success by championing diversity in leadership”.
“Since childhood, I was interested in everything around me,” Theresa tells Verve. “I’d go to the local library with my mum and take out two books a week. I did extra subjects at school, and later at university, I did a business degree that included languages and women’s studies – which was pretty unheard of at the time.”
Initially, there was no particular career path Theresa dreamed of pursuing, she admits, other than sating her curiosity. Curiosity, she believes, is an underrated virtue both in business and in life.
“Resilience and determination are important characteristics of course, but so many changes are really the integration of two things that never went together before. An obvious example is Airbnb which was not a thing 20 years ago. It’s being curious about how you might solve problems or create opportunities through things that don’t really appear like they go together. Electric cars are another example – they’re so full of software, it’s like driving a PC!
Get people who shine where you don’t, it’s the only way to take an organisation forward.
Is being curious about people an essential element of leadership too?
“Well, I was one of four siblings, meaning, with Mum and Dad, there were six people in our house – which is a big family by today’s standards – so you always had to be aware of people’s need and work through any issues. Though I would be cautious of calling that being curious about people. I’ve certainly always been interested in people. I considered becoming a psychologist.”
You’ve written about how supportive your parents were, looking back, did your upbringing also lay the foundations of your later philanthropy?
“I haven’t been a practising Catholic for decades. But I went to a Catholic girls’ school, and the nuns who ran it were a terrific early influence. Not only were they so capable, but they taught you to be self-reliant and to give back, express gratitude, and look after those who have less. I’ve donated money to charity since my first paycheque, I believe that if you’re a generous person with money or time then it comes back to you in other ways.”
Did you later have significant female mentors in business?
“Not really, mentoring and coaching wasn’t really a thing back then. Someone who did have an impact was Dr Sharon Lord, a business consultant from the US who at the time had been the most senior woman at the Pentagon. She was instrumental in helping me think about how to navigate from middle management to senior positions.”
Which women leaders inspire you?
“You know there are more female political leaders of countries than there have even been ministers of finance? Because I’m quite financially orientated, I reject the idea that only men can be masters of the universe when it comes to money, so I’m always attracted to women who’ve succeeded in that domain. Although I’ve never met her, I very much admire Christine Lagarde. Her ability to graciously deal with people from various countries and in special situations is inspiring. I’m quite intrigued by Mackenzie Scott and the way she’s now distributing her wealth in the US as a philanthropist. I’m not really impressed by people who care only about money, those who do good are far more inspiring.”
Having worked across so many industries, are there any that were particularly challenging as a woman, and have things improved?
“I tried to get into investment banking in my mid-20s and couldn’t because I was a woman. It’s still not a good industry for women but is getting better. Globally, we’ve got a very poor track record in terms of the percentage of fund managers and invest managers who are female. It means it’s far harder for female entrepreneurs to get funded, but it’s one of those invisible problems that people assume is fixed.”
Society, too, she laments, is very much still stacked in favour of the white, middle class: “It’s still very difficult if you’re marginalised in any way, and don’t have access to devices, for instance. Unfortunately, in New Zealand there is less opportunity for certain groups which certainly impacts girls more. And with covid, we almost have a lost generation who have dropped out of the system. There’s still much to be done for girls to have truly equal pathways.”
When speaking to groups of girls, Theresa says the first thing she tells them is not to rush, to not believe, like she once did, everything has to be done in your twenties. “It’s about learning and growing. You’ve got plenty of time to zigzag, don’t be in a hurry. You can become a CEO, an entrepreneur, you can have a family. You just can’t do it all between breakfast and morning tea.”
Are you still a big reader, any professional recommendations?
“I’ve read both of Michelle Obama’s books. I loved her autobiography, but her latest one, The Light We Carry, had a few more life lessons. She speaks a lot about resilience and authenticity. There’s good reason she’s one of the most admired women in the world. She’s stuck to her own sense, and she stands in her own power. We’re often conditioned to think that power is a positional thing, but we all have our own personal power and cultivating it means understanding yourself.”
It’s a shame she doesn’t run for president.
“Yes, but she realised that the situation was so toxic, she didn’t want a part of it… Oh, also Ruby Tui’s book, Straight Up. I haven’t read it yet, but I think she’s a wonderful role model for young Kiwi girls.”
As the conversation draws to a close, Theresa imparts some final leadership advice: “Never be afraid to hire people that are better than you. Otherwise, it’s so limiting.”
You make a place better, she adds, by looking to people with different skills and mindsets.
“Get people who shine where you don’t, it’s the only way to take an organisation forward.”
