Leadership and mentoring for values-led teams in Aotearoa NZ

At ThinkFRESH, we work with leaders and organisations to grow clarity, courage, and sustainable impact — without burning out the people who hold the work.

A mature woman with short gray hair sitting at a wooden desk, holding a pen near her face, with a thoughtful expression. She is wearing a blue blazer over a white patterned blouse, gold jewelry, and is surrounded by various pens and markers on the desk with a notebook in front of her. A large framed picture of a blue sky with clouds hangs on the gray wall behind her.

Leadership today is complex — and deeply human

Across government and non‑government sectors, leaders are navigating unprecedented pressure: rapid change, increasing demand, stretched teams, and high emotional load.

ThinkFRESH partners with organisations to develop wholehearted leaders — leaders who can think clearly, lead with integrity, and create cultures where people can do meaningful work and stay well.

This is a different kind of leadership development for values-led and high-purpose environments, integrating

— Restorative leadership

— Emergent and learning systems thinking

— Emotional intelligence

— Mind-body science

This work speaks to the human factors that make or break our aspirations as leaders.

“I can’t recommend Heather highly enough to any organisation wanting to strengthen leadership capability and support the wellbeing of their people.”
— Peter Newman, Regional Manager Enliven Central, Presbyterian Support

Let’s have a conversation

Whether you’re exploring leadership mentoring, a programme for your organisation, or just want to find out more — I’d love to hear from you.

“Heather, the mahi you do ... it speaks to my soul and deeper self. In a world where everyone is trying to ‘be someone’, we lose who we are and what we stand for. It’s empowering and touches on every aspect of life and work.”
— Manisha, New Zealand

Our Services

A woman with short gray hair sitting at a desk in an office, holding pink glasses in her right hand, with a computer monitor, notebook, and pen on the desk. The background features a window with green plants and framed certificates on the wall.

  • A structured leadership development programme designed for real-world complexity.

    This programme supports leaders to:

    — Lead with clarity and values under pressure

    — Build trust, psychological safety, and accountability

    — Regulate themselves and others during uncertainty and change

    — Sustain effectiveness without sacrificing wellbeing

    Delivered in-person and/or online in interactive workshops and follow-on community-of-practice sessions, this programme is designed to help your team put their knowledge into practice with deep attention to the human realities of leadership

    More about Wholehearted Leadership

  • Confidential, one-to-one mentoring for leaders carrying significant responsibility.

    Leadership mentoring with ThinkFRESH provides a trusted thinking partnership, offering space to:

    — Reflect on complex decisions

    — Strengthen leadership identity and integrity

    — Navigate challenge, growth, and transition

    — Create a personal wellbeing strategy so you can lead in alignment with values — even under pressure.

    More about Mentoring

  • People‑centred consultancy for organisations working in complex, high‑stakes environments.

    ThinkFRESH works alongside government and non‑government organisations to support:

    — Leadership and culture development

    — Strategic programme review when progress has stalled

    — Wellbeing strategy at an organisational level

    — Facilitation of strategic and courageous conversations

    — Support through change, pressure, and transition

    The work is pragmatic, relational, and deeply informed by lived leadership experience in the public and community sectors.

    Consultancy Enquiries

Client Experiences

“Our team has become so connected to each other. We have opened our eyes, ears and hearts to reframe the way we see each other — to create a softer connection. You hear us — the words we speak and the ones we don’t.”

— Trish, New Zealand

“I have been reflecting on why these sessions have been so impactful for the whole team … the answer is the way you have gently and skillfully nudged us to think deeply, be honest with ourselves and each other, and share bits of ourselves.”

— Christine, New Zealand

“The sensitivity and insight you have allows participants to feel safe in sharing the most personal stories … generating a sense of genuine commitment to open communication. The experience was connection, personal growth, and wellbeing.”

— Noelette, New Zealand
A smiling woman with short gray hair, wearing pink glasses, gold jewelry, and a patterned blouse, sitting on a gray couch with a curtain background.

ThinkFRESH was founded by Heather Bailey, a leadership mentor and consultant with extensive experience leading complex teams and systems across the health and community sectors.

Heather understands the realities of leadership from the inside: responsibility without easy answers, the weight of decision‑making, and the need to lead well without losing yourself in the process.

Her work combines strategic thinking with grounded, human leadership practice — supporting leaders to meet today’s challenges with courage, clarity, and care.

Heather Bailey, ThinkFRESH Founder

Leadership and Mind-Body Coach

30+ years experience in women’s health and advocacy

System design and learning systems practitioner

Facilitator and presenter

The ThinkFRESH Vision

At ThinkFRESH, we envision a world of high-impact leaders and organisations with the inner resources to meet complexity with clarity, courage and humanity — creating cultures where people can do meaningful effective work and thrive sustainably.