Our wonderful women

International Women’s Day occurs globally on 8 March every year in honor of the amazing women who campaigned for women’s rights and those who continue to do so today.

This year’s theme is “Inspire Inclusion”. This campaign emphasises the importance of valuing the inclusion of women. When we inspire others we contribute to create a better world. When women themselves are encouraged to participate and be included, they experience a sense of belonging and empowerment.

The Marlborough Weekly is celebrating by sharing some insights from some of our inspirational local business women in Marlborough.

Nikki Jacobson

What is your greatest passion? Family and friends as well as exercise and potato chips (just can’t shake that last one!)

What is something readers might not know about you? I represented New Zealand in table tennis when I was 16!

Best piece of advice you can offer? Sign here first…it’s a world of disclosures. Actually, looking back, the best piece of advice for a fulfilled life would be don’t be afraid to fail. Throw yourself into things and get excited about the feeling of achievement regardless of whether it goes perfectly.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? I think it’s fantastic Forsyth Barr now has an office in Marlborough. It’s wonderful for all those with a passion for finance to be able to have a career and bring up a family in one of New Zealand’s thriving regions.

3 Waters Avenue,
Corner Battys Road and Waters Avenue,
Blenheim
forsythbarr.co.nz

Sandy Knight

What is your greatest passion? Working alongside our clients to help them achieve their dream. Many tradies see a home as a job site - for me, their home is their sanctuary and needs to reflect their own personal flavours & be treated with the utmost respect.

What is something readers might not know about you? My biggest inspiration is my grandmother, Florence Humphries, who was a Mentor to Helen Clark back in the 70’s. She campaigned for the rights of the working class & for equality in women’s rights. She features in a book about the 100 most influential women in NZ’s history.

Best piece of advice you can offer? Hold your head up and look the world in the eye.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? Women in trades has become more commonplace nowadays which is fantastic to see. There was a time when women were not seen with tools in hand, and I believe that the likes of myself and others have made it more acceptable for women to feel empowered and confident to give trades a go!

Phone 022 017 6691
decoratingmarlborough.co.nz

Annu Jat

What is your greatest passion? I’m totally hooked on soaking up new skills, and I’m all about giving everything a shot. Learning is my jam, and turning ideas into reality is where I thrive. Whether it’s exploring the great outdoors or jet-setting, my passion is all about bringing cool ideas to life. As a businesswoman, I’m on a mission to make a difference by turning dreams into reality.

What is something readers might not know about you? I have a deep appreciation for the automotive world. I grew up in Blenheim and studied automotive in Nelson.

Best piece of advice you can offer? Never lose faith in yourself — ride life’s roller coaster with a big smile. Embrace the twists and turns, be kind to yourself, and in the dynamic business world, flex and bounce back. Adaptability and resilience? That’s our secret sauce for owning the success game.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? As a member of our family cafe, I contribute to creating a welcoming space that goes beyond serving food. It’s not just a business; it’s a platform to inspire everyone following my journey.

71 High Street, Blenheim
Phone 03 578 3828

Gina Botham

What is your greatest passion? My Greatest passion aside from my family and fur babies is my business. I take pride in the enjoyment people get out of coming into the store and shopping with my amazing team.

What is something readers might not know about you? I always wanted to be a vet… Being a jeweller was never on my radar until my 20’s.

Best piece of advice you can offer? Be happy with what you have, sure aim high and strive to achieve your goals but don’t forget to enjoy what you have already along the way.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? From humble beginnings, my passion has allowed me to share my knowledge and inspire other young talent and their skills in the industry, leading to the incredible team we have at GMW.

91 Weld Street, Blenheim
gmwjewellery.co.nz

Michelle Rosthorn

What is your greatest passion? When it comes to work…my passion is to create a piece of jewellery for a client, of beauty beyond their dreams, that really holds a personal story for them, often keeping past stories alive and of a quality that can be carried on to future generations.

What is something readers might not know about you? I come from Cape Town, where I served a four and a half year, full time apprenticeship in precious metal working and jewellery manufacture, qualifying as a goldsmith in 1995.

Best piece of advice you can offer? There is so much to be grateful for in life. Concentrate on that and everything will be all right. We all make mistakes, learn from them, put them behind you and keep moving forward.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? I hope that I am an inspiration and set an example for young women. By following your heart, and with hard work and perseverance, it is possible to raise and be part of a fun-loving family while at the same time, gain the fulfilment of a successful career.

03 577 7633
michrosthorn@gmail.com
137 High St, Blenheim

Anna Bensemann

What is your greatest passion? Helping people navigate the complex world of seeking resource consents from Council. With so many aspects of our environment and urban environments to consider when seeking a resource consent, the response I get from helping someone be successful in achieving their goals, or simply meeting Council compliance, keeps me wanting to serve more people.

What is something readers might not know about you? Born and raised in the Wairau Valley and attending Wairau Valley Primary School, I am a third generation local.

Best piece of advice you can offer? Never be afraid to admit you don’t understand, and always ask questions. Gaining knowledge is about being curious and asking questions will help you, and those around you, grow and learn.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? Through owning my own business, and being successful with the support of an amazing team at Baseline Group, I have been able to share the knowledge and insights I have gained with young women in the planning industry. Watching them learn and grow from that experience is, in itself, inspiring.

Phone 03 578 7299
blg.nz

Rachel Black

What is your greatest passion? I love my job! The Marlborough Women’s refuge is a non-profit organisation that has campaigned for women’s rights and has done so since the early 1970s.  It’s great to be involved in such an important cause and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

What is something readers might not know about you? I am a current representative on the governing board of The National Collective of Independent Womens Refuges. This is the official national body to receive and distribute funds, negotiate permanent funding, co-ordinate the refuges and provide national representation.

Best piece of advice you can offer? ‘Silence is also conversation’ - Listen and learn.

How has your inclusion in your business helped inspire others? Everyday we work together as an organisation to help those in need. Without a strong team collective it wouldn’t be possible to provide the support we do and with this in mind we are always aiming to work well as a team and inspire each other.

Phone 03 577 9939
admin@marlbrefuge.com

Kathy Hemi

Discrete advice to help spice up your life

Kathy Hemi, the owner of BKinky Be Adult Boutique, has been empowering women across the country for nearly twenty years. Kathy is a firm believer that everyone deserves the very best experience, every time, and offers a range of premium products both instore and online to help spice up your sex life. The team have been in the business for a very long time and pride themselves on delivering highly pleasurable products within a caring and non-judgmental environment. “Forgot about that awkward felling, for us, discretion is paramount”. Located on Hardy Street, BKinky Be Adult Boutique sell a variety of adult items including sexy lingerie, novelty games, toys, roll play, lotions, incense and the Kama Sutra range. Kathy believes that people who can openly discuss issues of sexuality have healthier and happier relationships as well as greater overall well-being. “People can often experience difficulties such as lack of libido, surgery which may have altered things, ‘performance’ issues or just wanting more from their relationship. Everyone is welcome to come in and discuss their issue with us. We will listen and help to figure out what each person’s individual needs are and do our best to help provide solutions. Until you have a conversation, you may not even be aware of what you want.” If you are unsure of what you need, just ask the friendly staff or visit the website chatroom for advice. www.bkinky.co.nz.