Are NZ leaders underrated? with Paul Meyrick and Stuart Collins

About this episode

The episode discusses the under-recognition of senior leadership in New Zealand tech and explores the transition from technical to system leadership.

Sometimes it feels like senior leadership in New Zealand tech isn’t recognised at the level it should be , especially when big roles come up, and decision-makers look offshore for “proven experience”. In this episode, Jakub is joined by Paul Meyrick and Stuart Collins from Wires Uncrossed to unpack what’s really going on. Drawing on leadership experience across Silverstripe, MetService, BNZ, and Xero, they explore the hidden step-change from being an excellent engineer to becoming a system leader — shifting from “building solutions” to “designing the conditions where solutions can happen repeatedly”. They talk about why success feels harder to claim in leadership, how humility can turn into invisibility, and why the right language matters when you’re asking for investment or influencing boards and exec teams. They also share practical signals that you’re ready for the next step, how to make imposter syndrome work for you (without letting it crush you), and why community and mentorship are critical — because leadership can be lonely. In this episode we cover: Why NZ tech leadership can be under-recognised (and what to do about it) The shift from technical leader to system leader…

People in this episode

Host: Jakub

Guests: Paul Meyrick, Stuart Collins

Topics covered

• NZ tech leadership
• system leadership
• visibility vs humility
• influencing stakeholders
• imposter syndrome
• community and mentorship

Keywords

• leadership
• New Zealand
• tech
• visibility
• humility
• mentorship
• imposter syndrome
• stakeholders

Sponsors

Wires Uncrossed

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Silverstripe, MetService, BNZ, Xero

Places: New Zealand

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