CELF alumni Class of 2020, Power Farming co-owner and executive director Brett Maber found friendship, validation and personal growth on the Elevate Leadership Programme.
The eight-week programme, delivered over the course of eight months brings together established leaders from different kinds of organisations, in an effort to increase the elevation and social impact of all participants. CELF believes in the positive impact that connected, responsible leaders have on their community. Brett describes his journey as a business leader like building a Lego set without the instructions.
He knew Power Farming was achieving at the top of its game in New Zealand as well as keeping pace with international players in the farm equipment field.
“With CEFL it was like someone had run me through the instructions and it was nice to know that through trial and error, and experience that I had worked out a lot of the ways to do things over the 20 years in the business. For my own personal growth there was that validation aspect to it which was quite nice,” he says.
Spending time on the CELF journey, affords participants the time to step into a setting that is separate from their day-to-day business life to reflect on what they’ve achieved, what they want to achieve and the vison they have for their business and their team.
As well as validating what he was already doing, CELF gave Brett a space to check in on Power Farming’s business model and success, alongside a group of people from a diverse range of businesses and organisations.
“It really invigorated you to go back and use a lot of the things you’ve learned on your business. That’s one of the things that I found really cool about CELF is that 99% of the content was really relevant. You almost had steam pouring out of your ears after most sessions because it really ignited that spark to try new things and to be able to implement things throughout the business.”
Every CELF business alumni is matched to a not-for-profit leader who they sponsor thought the programme and walk alongside them in the same year-long leadership journey.
“Tanya and the team put two or three applications in front of you. There’s no real tie up apart from the acknowledgement from that person that this business is the one that’s actually funding you through.”
In Brett’s case, the match with Thomas McNabb from The Waterboy couldn’t been a better fit.
The Waterboy’s goal is to make sport and personal development activities an achievable option for every kid.
A rugby fan and junior coach, Brett knew this was a charity he could easily get behind. To top it all off they both attended St Pauls’ Collegiate, albeit Thomas was there several years after Brett.
“Thomas is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. I totally get the charity that he runs and think it’s fantastic,” he says.
The pair developed a good friendship over the year on CELF and Brett still considers Thomas a good mate.
“Just seeing his passion for what he does and the kind of person he is, it’s really neat that we can we can help support his cause as well.”
Brett and Power Faming also got behind another of Thomas’ initiatives, the Taka Wairua Tupu Program, a personal development for rangatahi youth aged 16- and 17-year-olds at schools in the Piako area.
“To actually hands-on see what that programme does for some kids that could be heading down the wrong paths and to see them graduate is awesome.”
Witnessing the transformation of a young woman they sponsored on the programme made such an impact that she was recently offered fulltime work at Power Farming.
“She’s doing really well, is proactive and one of our up-and-comers which is pretty cool, right? She really excelled despite a tough home life sometimes and now to be able to offer her the opportunity. I’d love to continue that story on and see where that goes. But that’s exactly why we do it.”
