29/05/2026
What does it actually mean to build as a woman founder — in a way that’s authentic, ambitious, and entirely your own?
That question sat at the heart of a recent pre-event webinar hosted by Electrify Aotearoa, where Marian Johnson, Chair of Electrify Aotearoa brought together Lane Litz, founder of What Founders Want, and Yaela Raber, founder of the Powerhouse Alliance, for an honest conversation about what women bring to the startup table - and what too often gets in the way.
A few things that stood out:
💡The people-pleasing tax is real - and expensive.
Women founders often spend huge amounts of energy managing the emotions, expectations, and egos of those around them. That energy has a cost. Recognising it is the first step toward reclaiming it.
💡Authenticity isn’t soft - it’s strategic.
When you mask who you are in a pitch or a room, people feel it. Authenticity creates trust, connection, and clarity far more effectively than performance ever will.
💡The equality conversation has a blind spot.
If the goal is only to “do it the same way,” we risk losing the very things that make women founders powerful - creativity, intuition, emotional intelligence, impact-led thinking, and the ability to build differently.
💡Confidence isn’t permanent.
It rises and falls. That’s not weakness - that’s being human. The goal isn’t to eliminate doubt entirely. It’s to stop treating every wobble as evidence you don’t belong.
And perhaps the biggest reminder of all:
💡Stop playing small.
Whether you’re building a high-growth startup or a profitable business with meaningful impact, the world needs more women solving problems from their own lived experience - and building boldly because of it, not in spite of it.
Check out the full conversation here >> https://hubs.la/Q04jjYXW0
If this resonates, Electrify Aotearoa is the place to be.
A conference for women founders ready to stop shrinking and start building bigger. ⚡
🎟️ Secure your spot - https://hubs.la/Q04jjYlq0
📅 9 & 10 JUNE 2026
📍 NZICC, AUCKLAND
Thank you to all our incredible partners for championing the growth of women entrepreneurs in New Zealand!
NZGCP | Auckland Council | Kiwibank | Kindrik Partners | Blackbird Ventures | Clare Ventures | Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women | Foggy Valley | Punakaiki Fund | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise | TechStep
