This month, I had the privilege of joining the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum in Singapore, alongside 30 CEOs and directors from some of New Zealand’s leading organisations. I was proud to represent the SME sector and bring the perspective of New Zealand business owners into the conversation.
What stood out most was the strong sense of trust and shared ambition between our two countries. As small, open economies, both New Zealand and Singapore understand that long-term success depends on strong partnerships, collaboration and the ability to adapt in a rapidly changing world.
The forum focused on practical conversations around areas like trade, supply chain resilience, AI, sustainability and future growth opportunities. But beyond the topics themselves, what was most valuable was the opportunity to connect with leaders facing many of the same challenges we see here at home, building capability, navigating uncertainty and creating businesses that can thrive in increasingly complex environments.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was that successful business ecosystems don’t happen by accident. They are intentionally built through strong leadership, trusted relationships and communities that encourage people to learn from one another and raise the standard together.
For New Zealand SMEs, there is a real opportunity in that. Our scale can be a strength if we stay connected, collaborative and outward-looking.
.png?width=50&name=Olivia%20Blaylock%20(2).png)
