Growth in 2026 looks different. Ready to Rise spotlights the businesses making it happen now – sharing honest insights, smart strategies, and real-world lessons on building momentum in a changing market.
After several years defined by caution, cost control, and uncertainty, many New Zealand businesses have entered 2026 with a different mindset – one that’s more focused on traction than survival – albeit within the context of global uncertainty. Not every business is booming, but there are clear signals of progress, and for those willing to adapt, real opportunities are emerging.
Ready to Rise returns in 2026 as a business breakfast series focused on what it actually takes to move forward in this environment. Less about hype, more about practical growth.
This May, the focus turns to the businesses that are gaining momentum right now. Not in theory, but in practice. You’ll hear directly from founders and leaders who are navigating today’s conditions and finding ways to grow – what they’re doing differently, where they’re placing their bets, and how they’re managing risk along the way.
Join us for an energising morning of practical insight, honest conversation, and forward-thinking strategy. We’ll unpack:
- How New Zealand businesses are finding pockets of growth in a still-challenging market
- The decisions and trade-offs shaping stronger performance
- Where the most immediate opportunities for growth lie in 2026
- What it takes to shift from steady to scalable in the current climate
- How new tech and AI is powering a new type of growth for small business
Whether you’re looking to unlock your next phase of growth, sense-check your strategy, or learn from those already making progress, this event will leave you better equipped to move forward with clarity and confidence.
In 2026, it’s not just about staying the course – it’s about how you rise.
Speakers
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- James Fuller is Co-founder and CEO of Hnry, a fintech platform simplifying tax and financial admin for sole traders. After early roles in technology, strategy, and consulting with Thomson Reuters and Deloitte, James experienced firsthand the challenges of self-employment — leading him to co-create Hnry in 2017. Since launch, Hnry has grown to become New Zealand’s largest and Australasia’s fastest-growing accounting service, processing billions in payments and supporting thousands of self-employed individuals. The company’s mission is to make self-employment simple, affordable, and accessible, freeing up time for people to focus on what they do best.
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- Vicky Cullinane is Co-Founder of Lemon & Beaker, a skincare brand bridging native New Zealand botanicals with advanced Korean skin technology. Her leadership has taken the brand to the global stage, launching into South Korea in 2025 – one of the world’s most saturated beauty markets with over 33,000 competing brands – where Lemon & Beaker generated $1.9M in sales within three hours of going live on local channels. In the US, Vicky led a spa-first rollout strategy that has driven significant commercial momentum, including a multi-year distribution agreement valued at NZD $20 million. Today, she continues to lead Lemon & Beaker’s international expansion.
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- Andrew Fairgray was appointed Chief Business Officer at 2degrees in September 2019. Andrew is an industry veteran, having formally run his own business JETA Group. Previous to that was the head of corporate and government sales at Vodafone. He has also held a range of executive roles in New Zealand and overseas with multi-national operators such as Alcatel Lucent, Nokia, and IBM. He currently is also an Independent Director of New Zealand Racing Board. Andrew joined 2degrees in their 10th year, with a strong brand and a significant opportunity to grow market share and Fight for Fair for Kiwi Businesses. Most recently through the merger with Vocus, he continues to lead the 2degrees Business team to improve the overall productivity of New Zealand Inc. through leveraging 2degrees world class mobile and fixed networks.
More speaker details coming soon…
