MYLN:
Kia ora Vaiola, thank you for taking the time to take part in this interview. You were one of the two NGO delegates this year to join the NZ Government Delegation at the sixty-sixth session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. You were also a YWCA Y25 wāhine toa of 2021, a member of the US Embassy NZ Youth Council and the first UN Youth NZ Regional President of Pacific descent. That’s an incredible leadership CV you have at just 23 years of age! Throwing it back to your high school years, did you always expect to head down this leadership pathway?
Vaiola:
To be honest, I never thought I had what it takes to be a leader in high school. I went to a Decile 1 high school in South Auckland, where I was not really exposed to traditional leadership opportunities or pathways. If I could sit down with my 16 year self, she would most definitely laugh and find it difficult to believe me. I still don’t quite believe it either and the advice I would give her is to keep doing what she is doing as she’s on track – to be unapologetically herself and to always trust her intuition.
MYLN:
When you hear the word “leadership,” what comes to mind?
Vaiola:
What leadership looks like to me is constantly changing, and I quickly learnt that leadership could look different to many people and isn’t a one-size-fits-all model I needed to mould myself into. Leadership to me today is about servanthood – serving my communities and leading from behind or the side. I learnt servant leadership from my parents – to walk the talk, respect everyone I encounter, persevere through the different obstacles, and to trust my gut.
MYLN:
It sounds like your parents have been highly influential in shaping who you are as a young leader.
Vaiola:
My parents were my first role models and still are. I grew up watching my parents go from strength to strength with the resources they had access to and made sure I could take up many opportunities they weren’t able to tap into when they were my age. When I was around seven years old, I watched my mom walk across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. My Dad approached his 40th year working at Auckland City Hospital. They embody service and continue to play a huge role in my leadership journey.
MYLN:
Can you tell us a little bit about your first youth leadership opportunity?
Vaiola:
I did not get my first youth leadership opportunity until my second year of university. In high school, I was not aware of or exposed to traditional youth leadership opportunities and pathways. In my second year of university, I was selected as a delegate for a study tour to Southeast and East Asia. The opportunity opened many doors for me, and I will always be grateful because it led me to take a step out of my comfort zone, serve my community, and advocate for Pacific and Māori rangatahi to be empowered in a safe space where they can bring their whole selves. I was able to represent New Zealand on the global stage and receive subsequent awards that recognised my advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion in BIPOC communities, particularly Pacific peoples.
MYLN:
Has your leadership journey to date been reasonably smooth sailing, or have there been bumps along the way?
Vaiola:
Being a leader has been a rollercoaster ride with many challenges. As a Pacific Islander born and raised in South Auckland, I can always pick up on the silent judgement of others and often get compliments that come off backhanded, like “wow you’re doing so great for someone from your background.”
Two events that really impacted me negatively this year were being told to change parts of myself “to be someone who others feared,” as well as stepping down from my first governance role due to two male board members insisting that the only role I was qualified for on the board was the Māori/Pacific role where I was only to provide feedback on Māori/Pacific issues, nothing more.
MYLN:
We’re so sorry to hear about the unconscious and overt bias and prejudice you’ve experienced throughout your leadership journey…
Vaiola:
This is a common experience for indigenous and ethnic New Zealanders. I want to be transparent and not romanticise my journey like I do on my Instagram account, where I only post about the highs. I also want to take the opportunity to again stress the importance of representation at every level of leadership and across every sector in order to mitigate these issues.
MYLN:
What keeps you motivated to continue fighting the good fight and pushing for greater diversity in leadership?
Vaiola:
Despite the unfortunate events over the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the world’s biggest gender equality conference, met with the Governor-General, received awards recognising my advocacy in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space, work at an organisation that aligns with my passions and values, and I have the best village who have been a strong pillar I can lean on.
These “highs” and “wins” keep me hopeful that an inclusive Aotearoa is attainable, and that we can eventually foster safe leadership spaces where ethnic minorities don’t feel the need to code switch or leave parts of themselves at the door.
MYLN:
Has your understanding of leadership changed or evolved from when you first started out on this journey?
Vaiola:
Leadership to me used to look like someone who was confident, assertive and intimidating. Now, it’s about walking with grit and grace and collectively working towards a shared goal. Leadership is also about serving behind the scenes to ensure that everyone is ok and helping to mentor and open doors for others.
MYLN:
Thank you so much for all your wise words and insights. Do you have any final messages you’d like to share with any young person reading this interview?
Vaiola:
Do it at your own pace, be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and do what you believe is best for you. The journey is never easy, but with perseverance and surrounding yourself with the right people – the fruits of your labour will always be recognised and will be worthwhile.
