Catalysing your leadership.

Prof. Chellie Spiller

Ngāti Kahungunu

I come from a long line of voyagers, knowledge holders and people who found their way through changing worlds.

My ancestor Tahu Pōtiki travelled on the Tākitimu waka and later settled at Iwitea, near Wairoa with Hamō-te-rangi. That whakapapa matters to me because it is not simply a story of where I come from. It shapes how I understand leadership, relationship, place, responsibility and the work we leave for those who follow.

My work sits at the meeting place of Indigenous knowledge, leadership, systems change and
lived experience.

Across research, teaching, writing and facilitation, I explore how we find our way through uncertainty, how we act in good relationship, and how we contribute to futures that are more just, regenerative and alive.

About

Purpose and Values

"At the heart of leadership is the community, not the individual. My purpose is to inspire and transform leaders through Māori values of connectedness, stewardship, and collective wisdom."

Whanaungatanga (Kinship)

Whanaungatanga refers to a sense of connection through shared experiences and working together, which provides people with a sense of belonging. This value is fundamental in Māori culture, emphasising the importance of relationships and the collective over the individual.

Manaakitanga
(Care)

Manaakitanga is the process of showing respect, generosity, and care for others. In a leadership context, this value can translate to nurturing relationships, looking after people, and enhancing the mana (prestige and authority) of others, which in turn increases one’s own mana.

Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship)

Kaitiakitanga involves guardianship and protection of the natural world and people. Leaders who embody this value are committed to sustainability and the stewardship.

Ethical business: Catalyst Leadership Development

Catalyst Leadership aims to enhance your life and leadership by unlocking your Catalyst potential to change the world for good. Led by Professor Chellie Spiller with support from Dr Rodger Spiller, Catalyst Leadership’s mission is to help make your leadership matter. Catalyst Leadership aims to create more sustainable wealth and wellbeing – to transform your leadership, your life and the world.

Visit Catalyst

TedX talk by Chellie Spiller on Wayfinding Leadership. Features a video by Hoturoa Barclay Kerr

Wayfinding Leadership

Wayfinding Leadership is a pioneering approach to leadership development grounded in the ancient wisdom of traditional Polynesian navigation. As co-author of the award-winning book Wayfinding Leadership: Ground-breaking Wisdom for Developing Leaders, I—Dr Chellie Spiller—have helped bring this kaupapa to life as a thought leader, facilitator, and guide for leaders navigating complexity, uncertainty, and change. Rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and brought into contemporary contexts, Wayfinding Leadership invites people to cultivate presence, relational depth, and deep attunement to their environments.