From Nervousness to Confidence: How 5 Kiwifruit Leaders Found Their Framework

Oropi, Bay of Plenty Region / Syndication Cloud / October 13, 2025 / Communicate Powerfully

Tauranga, September 2025 — Five leaders from across the kiwifruit industry joined a Governance Development Programme to tackle a shared fear: how to confidently introduce themselves when applying for board roles.

To learn more about this programme please visit Communicate Powerfully, founded by Carly Shorter – https://www.communicatepowerfully.com/

Many described the same experience. One put “pressure on himself to get it right fast.” Another explained he appeared confident but was “overthinking everything” inside. Others admitted that in those first 60 seconds, nerves often caused them to hold back on asking questions. For some, these moments had been quietly holding them back for years, stopping them from stepping into opportunities they were more than qualified for. The room carried a mix of ambition and hesitation, a feeling many leaders will instantly recognize. Everyone wanted to step up, but they weren’t sure how to bridge the gap between what they felt internally and what they projected externally.

The underlying fear was clear: coming across as less capable than they are and “stuffing up” in front of respected peers.

The workshop focused on a simple but powerful shift, combining structure with self-belief. By helping them align their strengths with their audience’s needs, everything changed. “Ohhh… this gives me a framework to lean on,” one participant said as the room relaxed. The atmosphere shifted from tense to curious, and conversations started flowing more naturally. It was the kind of shift that happens when theory finally clicks into lived experience.

The turning point came when someone declared, “This is exactly what I needed, tangible tools I can use.” Nervous beginnings gave way to laughter, animated conversations, and real ownership of their stories.

“I love that I have a structure to fall back on but it still feels like me,” one participant reflected afterwards. A follow-up message captured the mood: “Thanks so much for a great session yesterday. I got so much out of it. Well done for jampacking so much into 4 hours!”

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Communicate Powerfully, led by Carly Shorter, delivers practical communication skills training for leaders and learners. Through in-house, off-site, and virtual workshops, they help teams build confidence, have conversations that matter, and create lasting workplace change.

https://www.communicatepowerfully.com/

Communicate Powerfully

34/39 Pukemapu Rd
Oropi
Bay of Plenty Region
3173
New Zealand