At the heart of every great story lies a spark of curiosity - a flame that refuses to dim, guiding its bearer toward endless possibilities. For Heidi Renata, a Curious wahinepreneur with a passion for blending tribal wisdom and technology, her journey has been nothing short of game-changing. From humble beginnings in Milton, Aotearoa, Renata has carved a path filled with mana-centric innovation and leadership, redefining what it means to thrive in the modern workforce and workplace.
Every entrepreneur embarks on a powerful journey when setting up a business - a journey filled with challenges, growth, and profound self-discovery. For INNOV8HQ, this has meant a steadfast focus on supporting youth as they navigate their own leadership and entrepreneurial pathways. For Renata, this journey was deeply rooted in the values of whanaungatanga (connection), manaakitanga (care), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). These principles became the foundation of INNOV8HQ’s kaupapa, guiding its mission to empower individuals and communities through innovation and leadership.
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Made in 75, cheeky and ambitious -
Heidi Renata, Co-founder and CEO of INNOV8HQ is a proud blend of her Māori and Pākehā heritage, reflected in her business's koru and tartan logo.
As a renowned global keynote speaker and "Culturally Curious Wahinepreneur," Heidi Renata has forged a 25-year career in technology, including a pivotal 13-year stint at Vodafone NZ. Her approach is centred on fostering transformative journeys through strategic collaborations.
This philosophy is integral to her work with rangatahi, where she leverages her extensive experience to inspire and equip young leaders with the skills necessary to thrive in a technologically evolving world. Heidi's commitment to mentorship enriches her engagements, guiding the next generation towards innovative thinking and dynamic leadership
Her leadership has earned accolades like the Otago Daily Times Business Leader of the Year in 2022 and Programme of the Year in 2023 for her Mana Rangatahi Programme.
As an advisor to government and the education sector, Heidi is dedicated to bridging the gap for learners, ensuring they are equipped with the essential tools and skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven world.
Her life’s mantra: "Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something, because you can and you will. Feel the fear and do it anyway—it's worth it."
Made in 66, "Big bro" Steve is eldest of the Renata whanau siblings and key shareholder of INNOV8HQ. Steven is an avid supporter of whanau wellness, entrepreneurship and cultural intelligence. As a Business Development expert and Director he brings two decades of experience through ownership and positions in global and national organisations. He was a founding shareholder of Les Mills International and is now the current CEO and co-owner of KIWA Digital, a global trans-media company based in Auckland
New Zealand.
As siblings from a proud blended family with Pakeha and Māori ancestry, our family philosophy was to work hard, stand up for what you believe in and be gracious in all that you do. Having grown up as children of the 60s and 70s, we inherently lived dual lives not always comfortable in one or the other, but unconsciously searching for the authentic blend.
After travelling the world for two decades and settling back in Aotearoa we could sense the shifts; colony to nation, western world view to TeAo Māori world view, adults to guardians and employees to employers.
Armed with a new sense of duality we’ve embarked on designing and delivering an innovative coworking model that will help navigate the future.
