Harbour to Horizon Podcast

Discover analysis, opinions and expertise from both academia and industry on issues directly affecting New Zealand businesses, industries and communities. The Business School’s Harbour to Horizon podcast series explores contemporary organisational and business challenges through conversations with New Zealand industry leaders and academic experts. Each episode features an in-depth discussion with organisational representatives and Business School academics, providing practical insights into how today's organisations are navigating current challenges and opportunities.

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What if one of the biggest business ideas began with one of parenting's most common frustrations?

When Kate Ricketts struggled to help her autistic son through repeated head lice treatments, she didn't just search for another solution – she invented one. That personal challenge became iSpyNits, an award-winning New Zealand innovation now expanding into international markets.

In this episode, Kate joins Susie alongside University of Auckland Business School academic Dr Wender Martin to discuss the entrepreneurial journey behind transforming a garage prototype into a regulated medical device sold across New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Together they explore the realities of building a start-up, securing investment, navigating regulation, learning from failure, scaling a business, and the invaluable role universities play in fostering innovation.

This is an honest conversation about resilience, entrepreneurship, and why some of the world's best ideas begin by solving a problem close to home.

What does it take to lead one of New Zealand's most iconic venues, where every major event is expected to be flawless and every decision is played out on the national stage?

In this episode, Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner joins Susie Nordqvist alongside University of Auckland Business School Deputy Dean Professor Andrew Patterson to explore the leadership behind managing New Zealand's national stadium. From overseeing a workforce of thousands on event days to creating unforgettable experiences for millions of visitors, Nick shares the lessons that have shaped his career – from professional sport and personal setbacks to leading one of the country's most recognised brands.

Together they discuss values-based leadership, building high-performing teams, lifelong learning, resilience in the face of redundancy, innovation in the events industry, and why strong relationships remain the foundation of exceptional leadership. Nick also offers fascinating insights into balancing commercial success with community responsibility, and what it really takes to operate a venue that has become synonymous with New Zealand's greatest sporting and entertainment moments.

This is an inspiring conversation about purpose, perseverance, and leading with values in one of the most visible leadership roles in the country.

What does it really take to keep products moving around the world?

In this episode of Harbour to Horizon, host Susie Nordqvist is joined by supply-chain leader Ayman Aslam and University of Auckland Business School academic Dr Subhamoy Ganguly to explore the complex world behind the products we see on supermarket shelves.

Ayman takes listeners inside the global supply chains of Zuru, explaining how decisions about manufacturing, warehouses, inventory, shipping and customer demand determine how products move from factories in China to markets around the world. He explains why some products are made to order while others are made to stock, how companies decide where to locate warehouses, and why ocean freight is often the preferred option for consumer goods – while time-critical industries such as aerospace may depend heavily on air freight. The conversation also explores the challenges of seasonal demand, reverse logistics, product traceability and unexpected global disruption. From toys and FMCG products to Rocket Lab's highly time-sensitive supply chains, Ayman reveals how seemingly small operational decisions can have major consequences.

Ayman also shares his advice for students considering careers in operations and supply chain management, emphasising the importance of staying calm under pressure, working closely with teams, thinking creatively and using data to make better decisions. Looking ahead, he discusses the transformative potential of automation, robotics, AI and dynamic forecasting in modern supply chains.

Discover what happens behind the scenes before a product ever reaches the shelf – and why the future of global supply chains may be increasingly driven by technology, data and people.

What happens to leadership when the tools your people use – and the shape of your organisation itself – are being reimagined every few years?

In this episode, Straker Co-CEO of AI and Innovation Indy Nagpal joins Susie Nordqvist alongside University of Auckland Business School Professor Julia Kotlarsky to unpack what artificial intelligence really means for leaders and the future of work. Drawing on more than 30 years in technology, Indy traces how his own company has reinvented itself through successive waves of change – from building websites, to SaaS, to the AI-native platforms it's building today – and what that pattern of reinvention demands of leaders now. Together they dig into the real evidence behind AI and job losses, why curiosity and judgement are becoming the most valuable human skills in an AI-saturated workplace, and the evolving relationship between people and AI as tool, mirror, and true collaborator.

They also explore why organisations in New Zealand and Europe alike are struggling with trust and slow AI adoption, what AI means for the future of management and organisational structure, and why building junior talent's ability to judge AI's output may be the industry's biggest emerging challenge. This is a candid, forward-looking conversation about curiosity, critical thinking, and leading through technological change that's moving faster than ever before.