Celebrating the best of the best NZ entrepreneurs

Pictured above: The NZ chapter of EO.

On Saturday night, 100 members of the New Zealand chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and partners dressed up and descended on the Northern Club in Auckland for the organisation’s annual awards.

The Poppy Awards is a yearly opportunity for EO members to come together and celebrate those from within their ranks have gone above and beyond for the organisation.

Long-time EO member and entrepreneurial superstar, Marisa Fong summed up well, in her opening address, the “bucking bronco economic times” that business owners have been experiencing, but she also encouraged the group to hold on, as she believes entrepreneurs to be the unique and special bunch that will get us all through this time.

It was particularly important to have a night to let their hair down and celebrate all that they – and their businesses – were achieving.

Helen Mackay, founder and Managing Director of Juno Legal – and a member of EO for the last three years – took out the top honour on the night: the President’s Choice award. This award goes to a member who embodies the spirit of EO and was well-deserved by Helen who, almost as soon as she joined the organisation became a leader among leaders – serving as the Learning Chair and bringing incredible speakers and events to the EO community.

Also nominated for the Together We Grow award, which she has won twice already, Helen was motivated to join EO because “what I really wanted was to hear from other entrepreneurs, from people who had actually created a business of their own.” A few years on, Helen loves the support she receives – as a business leader and as a person – from such a “fabulous tribe” and it’s clear she’s giving at least as much to the organisation as she gets.

Wellington member, Grant Foggo (Founder at Comprende) took out the EO Ambassador award, which recognised the member who has shown the most dedication to EO – bringing awareness to the organisation and offering up their time and energy for the organisation. Grant has served on the EO board for all the years that he has been a member, believing there to be a “synergy in the how EO operates. I find the more I drive the business, the more I get from EO, and then it all repeats.”

The other award winners all more or less echoed this sentiment, with the remainder of the awards going to those members who were nominated and voted, by their peers, as best living the EO values.

The Think Big, Be Bold award went to tourism entrepreneur Ryan Sanders (Haka Tourism Group) for taking risks and seeing opportunity in challenges. There were few industries as challenged by Covid as tourism, and Ryan’s business experienced a “brutal” 96 percent drop in revenue. They not only hustled and made it through, but they pivoted and are now thriving having reached 250 percent of the size they were before the pandemic.

The Together We Grow award went to Noel Davies (of Hydraulink) a long-time member of EO New Zealand who has spent many years mentoring members. A self-professed lifelong learner, Noel believes learning is essential but that it isn’t only about books or being in a classroom, but is “more about learning from people, circumstances, experiences and even my family.” He also believes himself to be proof that you can train an old dog to do new tricks and that “you’re never too old to learn”.

Thomas Dietz, Noel Davies and Ryan Sanders.

The Trust & Respect award went to corporate and commercial law partner with Dentons Kensington Swan, Nick Scott, who was recognised for creating an environment where others can always be their complete, authentic selves. Nick has been an EO member since 2016 and is generous with his time and advice, proving to be always a safe and solid confidante, and a great support when it comes to helping his peers reflect on, and approach, their business challenges.

And finally, the Thirst for Learning award went to Shawn Pope, who alongside his wife, owns thirteen hospitality businesses in Auckland under the Melba Group umbrella. Working to solve a specific problem in his business led Shawn to EO because, while he was connected to lots of fabulous people in his life, he felt alone in his business. “I needed to be connected with people who were better than me and surround myself with those types of people.” That’s the power that he found in EO and he’s actively pursued learning, new ideas and perspectives in order to keep growing since.

Thomas Dietz, Shawn Pope and Marisa Fong.

The awards marked the end of the current year’s theme – ‘living your best life’ and a change in both President and Board for the organisation. Long-time EO member, Thomas Dietz (founder of Woop) steps down as President after the 2023-24 year, making way for Benson Kawengian (CEO of Datra Group) to lead this year’s focus on ‘Intelligent Design’.

Benson gave a heartfelt, vulnerable and rousing speech – that earned him a standing ovation and we all can’t wait to see what he does over the coming year for his “entrepreneurial home – a tribe where I’ve grown into a better, kinder, and more authentic entrepreneur.”