SIGNATURE WORK
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2023

I adopted a combination of interview, oral history, and text-based qualitative research approaches to evaluate the phenomenon of Asian New Zealand D&I challenges in leadership positions. Over the course of six months (February to July 2022), I interviewed an impressive cohort of 20 Asian New Zealand leaders. This group comprised CEOs, CFOs, board members, CXOs, and independent entrepreneurs. Through this process, I sought to unearth the unique challenges related to cultural and customary dissimilarities, unconscious biases, and other race-oriented inequities endured by Asians in the country.

With increasing attention towards Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) among New Zealand organizations, the timing is right to unearth, evaluate, and socialize the professional challenges and opportunities most pertinent to Asian New Zealanders. By focusing on these issues, organizations can better understand the needs of Asian New Zealanders, create a more inclusive workplace culture, and improve the experiences of all employees and entrepreneurs.

The under-representation of Asians in strategic leadership positions in New Zealand is a significant issue that warrants further investigation. Despite New Zealand’s reputation as a relatively harmonious and socially diverse nation, disparities in access to job opportunities persist for different ethnic groups, with Asians often facing additional challenges in career advancement. As of late 2022, a measly 3% of all board members in New Zealand’s largest 50 listed companies (NZX50) were Asian. Moreover, a miniscule 2.8% of their executive leadership teams were Asian (NZX50, n.d.). As the country’s Asian population continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that they are adequately represented in leadership positions across all sectors.