Wilhelmina Shrimpton: the new pivot

When I get asked about my decision to take the bold step of starting my own business, there’s often the assumption it was an intentional move, and all part of a bigger plan to forge my own path.

Truthfully, however, it didn’t stem from some profound moment or sudden craving for change; it stemmed from necessity. I was in survival mode after the seismic shift in the media landscape meant I lost not one, but two jobs in just two years. First, there was a redundancy from the now defunct Newshub, and then the sudden closure of Today FM.

The irony is that right before my first redundancy I released a podcast series that explored ‘the pivot’, which followed the experiences of around ten Kiwis who were forced to move into a different industry or role after losing their jobs during the pandemic.

Their stories were not too dissimilar to mine. Their lives had suddenly changed, and they had no choice but to adapt and change to survive. That was back in 2020, and as the dust settled on the string of lockdown-related job losses, then came the tsunami of economy related ones.

There have, of course, been the highly publicised closures of some newsrooms, and cuts at multiple government agencies. But that barely scratches the surface. Unemployment rose to 4.6 percent in the three months ended June, and every week it feels like there’s another business closing, another legacy brand calling it quits or a restaurant shutting its doors.

It’s a confronting reality, but once you peel back the layers of shock, fear, confusion and anxiety, underneath I believe there’s a lot of opportunity. The reality is, the only constant is change. Lockdowns have gone, and the economy will get better, but there will always be something new that emerges to force our hands, whether it’s driven by changes in our environment, resources or technology.

Right now, there’s a lot of chatter about how AI and machines are replacing people. That might be true in some industries and may mean the end of some roles. But what about the new ones that pop up in their place? Who develops those machines? Who markets and sells them? Who decides what it is that they’ll create and generate?

A buzzword of our time has been ‘pivot’, but for me it’s been more about diversification. Yes, I left the comfort of the newsroom to do something different, but it was the skills I learned there that gave me the tools to launch my business. I didn’t forget how to be a journalist in favour of something else; I evolved those skills into not just one but seven different services and income streams.

At the same time, I didn’t forget everything I learned while studying for my Bachelor of Commerce when I became a journalist. I used that knowledge to become a better one and now, through running my business, the skills I learned in the lecture theatre are more valuable than ever.

Adding more strings to my bow also means that if one breaks, I have others to draw on.

So, for those facing their own pivot – or, as I like to call it, ‘a move to diversify’ – I see you. Grieve what once was and know that a fear of change and the unknown is completely natural. I felt it too, but I’ve learned to embrace and harness it to see the next exciting thing around the corner.

Like I said, doing something new and different doesn’t always stem from a profound moment of inspiration; it’s often bred from a need to survive and evolve the skills you already have. I’m still a BCom graduate and a journalist, but now I’m the 2.0 version and in a few years’ time, I’m sure I’ll need to diversify into Wilhelmina 3.0.

Today, the ability to adapt is key. I firmly believe there are so many opportunities out there, and ones we don’t yet know exist.

Broadcaster and journalist Wilhelmina Shrimpton has a BCom from the University of Auckland and recently launched her own media business, Wils & Co. Media.

This article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.