Having grown up idolising The Hulk and Michael Jackson, Ali Cowley spent his youth surrounded by the great forces of creativity. His Samoan father also taught him the craft of drawing and sketching. After a colourful OE in Australia involving dance performances and working in a Chicken Farm, Ali trained in animation and went on…
Category: pacific
Pepe Afeaki: Embracing Motherhood and Worklife
Check out the latest Career Coffee Chat episode! Pepe Afeaki is an Auckland-based careers and employability coach who balances work with motherhood, community volunteering, family responsibilities and study. In this episode we have a frank discussion on the trials and tribulations of juggling personal and professional interests, and explore how her natural forte for serving…
Sharing my Mental Health Journey
Check out the latest episode of Career Coffee Chats! “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” This Shakespearian quote has long resonated with me and it makes me reflect on the importance of maintaining positive wellbeing so we can thrive and be our best selves. In this episode I talk…
Celebrate Good Times Come On!
What better way to celebrate the launch of the podcast, than having morning tea with a small gathering of supporters! A huge shout-out to Percy Cafe for providing such a beautiful venue and setting for the event. This is South Auckland’s best kept secret, so do drop them a visit (trust me, the scenery will…
Small businesses coming to the rescue
I would like to say thank you to ALL the amazing small businesses who served us during the COVID-19 lockdown. Whilst many businesses had no choice but to close (rest assured, many of us will be hunting you down as things re-open!), I am incredibly grateful for those who were able to trade and provide…
Cheers! Celebrating 10 years in the careers industry
Wow, where did the time go? It only seemed like yesterday when I was sitting awkwardly and eagerly in front of my very first client, an older man who had been unemployed for a while (thankfully the session wasn’t a train-wreck!). 10 years ago in April, I began my first official role in the careers…
Learning is fluid (and doesn’t need to stop)
Last year I wrote about commencing my Masters studies and how nervous, excited and challenged I was, especially as I was juggling a full time job and other commitments. You can refer to those posts here… https://careercoffeechats.wordpress.com/2017/04/09/blending-work-with-study/ https://careercoffeechats.wordpress.com/2017/07/27/the-highs-and-lows-of-study/ During my studies, I came across an unexpected turn of events in mid-2017 and ended up leaving…
Kai and Kōrero: Next event on 16 August
The Māori and Pasifika Careers Network are pleased to host our next Kai and Kōrero event on Thursday 16 August. This month’s focus is on the issue of race and diversity. New Zealand, and in particular Auckland, is a wonderfully multi-cultural place and Māori and Pasifika people make up a significant part of the cultural…
Say no to plastic #PlasticFreeNZ
This month is Plastic Free July and here are eights ways I will show my support for this important movement and cause… I will use reusable bags for groceries (must remember to leave a stash in my car). #banthebag I will use a reusable cup for my daily coffee. Personally I love ‘KeepCup’ as I…
The path to authority is through service
O le ala i le pule o le tautua. The path to authority is through service. I absolutely love this quote, shared by the über-talented John Belford-Lelaulu at a schools event today. John was there to inspire year 12 Pasifika students from across Auckland, but he also captivated teachers and other staff who were in…
Career Coffee Chats 