The SME Stream

Today on the podcast, I speak with Sasha McLeod, founder of DoseBuddy, a reusable medicine syringe for kids, with numbers that never rub off and a cap that stops the mess.
In this episode, Sasha takes us through the journey from that 2am frustration to a fully realised, regulated medical product.
We talk about:
🍼 How she validated her idea
💸 Using PledgeMe to fund the first manufacturing run
📢 Building a brand and community by sharing it all publicly, delays included
📱 Her approach to digital marketing and founder-led content
👶🏻 Juggling a full-time job, motherhood, and building a business on the side
Sasha is so open and honest about the process, and because digital marketing is her actual day job, this episode ends up being as much a masterclass in brand and social strategy as it is a founder story.
I know you'll love my korero with Sasha as much as I did.
After the episode, head to dosebuddy.co to check out this amazing new product for yourself (already a staple in my home), and follow @dosebuddy on Instagram to follow along the journey as Sasha grows her brand.

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How do organisations evolve without losing what already makes them successful?
In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Monica Ayers, Chief People Officer at New Zealand Post, to explore leadership, organisational transformation, workforce capability, and the realities of leading people strategy inside one of New Zealand’s most recognised organisations.
With experience spanning insurance, local government, and large-scale operational environments, Monica shares practical insight into redesigning operating models, navigating strategic change, and preparing organisations for the future of work.
From balancing legacy systems with innovation to building workforce capability in rapidly changing environments, this conversation explores the intersection of strategy, culture, leadership, and long-term organisational performance.
The discussion also dives into inclusion, workforce planning, AI, generational shifts, leadership influence, and the challenge of helping organisations stay future-ready while managing immediate operational pressures.
What You’ll Learn
How large organisations approach operating model transformation

Why organisational capability should drive workforce planning

The relationship between strategy, culture, and performance

How HR leaders can influence long-term thinking during economic pressure

What future workforce capability looks like in practice

The role AI may play in workforce design and capability planning

Why inclusion and diversity remain commercially important

How to balance operational delivery with long-term organisational sustainability

What HR professionals need to understand about leadership influence

How “work imagined versus work done” shapes organisational performance

Key Takeaways
Organisational transformation requires alignment between strategy, structure, culture, and capability

Future workforce planning starts with understanding organisational capability needs

Strong HR leadership balances immediate pressures with long-term thinking

Inclusion and diversity are critical to future workforce sustainability

Leadership influence relies on understanding business priorities and communication styles

High-performing organisations listen closely to frontline realities

Data, insights, and storytelling are increasingly important HR capabilities

The future of work requires adaptability, strategic thinking, and continuous learning

About Monica Ayers
Monica Ayers is Chief People Officer at New Zealand Post, where she leads the organisation’s people functions across employment relations, remuneration, organisational development, talent, and safety and wellbeing.
She joined NZ Post in 2020 and has played a key role in supporting organisational transformation and future workforce capability planning during a period of significant change and investment.
Monica has held senior HR leadership roles across insurance, local government, and large-scale operational environments, and is recognised for her pragmatic, future-focused approach to people strategy and leadership.
Why This Episode Matters
If you’re a leader, HR professional, or business owner navigating transformation, workforce change, or future capability planning, this episode offers practical insight into what large-scale organisational leadership actually looks like in practice.
It’s a grounded conversation about balancing operational realities with future readiness, while keeping people, culture, and organisational performance aligned through change.
Resources & Links
New Zealand Post

Monica Ayers | LinkedIn

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The Finance Minister says the Government has made the right move in delaying increase to the fuel tax at this stage.
The excise was due to rise 12-cents a litre next January, but has been delayed to the following year - and will only be five cents.
Nicola Willis says the Government is still on the path to returning to surplus, and they've determined they can fit this in as part of it.
"Ultimately, we've judged that we can fit it and also meet all of our budget responsibility rules in terms of maintaining that path to surplus - ensuring that we're still going to get debt tracking down."
LISTEN ABOVE
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The National Party will campaign on higher interest rates for graduates who move overseas before paying back their student loan.
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Westpac's Matthew Kinney on the surge in scams targeting kiwi businesses and why bank impersonation scams are proving so costly.
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