Kristen Lunman is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Powrsuit, a career accelerator that transforms professional development using a research-backed approach, delivering measurable results.
Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Kristen has spent her career challenging the status quo. She co-founded and led investment app Hatch, which democratised access to global investing for New Zealanders before its acquisition by FNZ in 2021. Previously, she launched early-stage startup Wipster in the US and led New Zealand's first Fintech Innovation Accelerator.
Today, Kristen and her Hatch co-founder, Natalie Ferguson, are on a mission to improve the representation of women and minorities in tomorrow's C-suites and boards.
With over 25 years of experience delivering growth across startups and multinationals in North America and Aotearoa, Kristen is a sought-after speaker on leadership development, career advancement, workplace culture transformation, navigating change, personal branding, executive presence, and the practical skills that unlock professional potential.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) from the University of British Columbia and certifications from the Project Management Institute and the Institute of Directors. Based in Wellington, Kristen mentors the next generation of women entrepreneurs when she's not catching waves on her surfboard.
Talking Points
Self-Leadership: Take the Wheel in Turbulent Times
When navigating restructures, budget cuts and constant change, your people aren't just navigating new processes - they're managing stress, uncertainty, and a perceived loss of control. Left unaddressed, productivity drops, conflict rises, and great people head for the exit. This session gives teams five straightforward strategies to stop waiting to be rescued and start positively shaping change. The result? Engaged teams, resilient leaders, and a culture of ownership.Self-Leadership: Take the Wheel in Turbulent Times
Key Takeaways:
Experience difficult emotions without getting stuck
Separate assumptions from reality
Navigate decisions you didn't make with agency
Influence outcomes even without formal authority
Build a culture of ownership during uncertainty
Perfect for: Leadership teams, employee resource groups, or all-hands sessions during significant change.
Stakeholder Management That Works
Projects stall, ideas get shut down, and great work goes nowhere - not because the work isn't good, but because the right people weren't brought in early enough (and kept updated along the way!). This workshop gives teams a practical process to work out who can help or block their work, have early conversations that shape better solutions, and build support before anything's a surprise. The result is faster approvals, stronger solutions, and less time wasted on rework.Stakeholder Management That Works
Key Takeaways:
Map stakeholders by power and spot champions vs sceptics
The early conversation that uncovers concerns and improves solutions
Use the ‘no surprises’ update loop to build support
Handle sceptics and get champions to drive work forward
Perfect for: Organisations wanting to speed up decisions, reduce project failures, and build collaboration across teams.
Stop Syndroming Women
Imposter syndrome has become the catch-all explanation for why capable people - especially women and women of colour - doubt themselves at work. But what if the label itself is part of the problem? This talk reveals the surprising history behind imposter syndrome and why it keeps the focus on fixing individuals rather than fixing the systems and biases that make them doubt themselves. It’s time to stop pathologising normal human experiences and start addressing the reasons they exist.Stop Syndroming Women
Key Takeaways:
Understand why the "imposter syndrome" label may be doing more harm than good
Build genuine confidence without treating yourself like you're broken
Recognise the difference between self-doubt and systemic barriers
Shift organisational focus from fixing women to fixing environments
Perfect for: Women's networks, diversity programmes, leadership conferences/events
Building Momentum Through Change
Big goals don't fail because people aren't capable - they fail because we're working against our wiring. When faced with change, our prehistoric brains can't tell the difference between a physical threat and a scary opportunity, which is why 92% of our best intentions never come to fruition.Building Momentum Through Change
This workshop tackles the mindset and behaviours needed to navigate change, teaching participants to hack their negativity bias and turn big goals into Minimum Viable Actions - steps so small they feel almost silly.
Key Takeaways:
Understand why your brain resists change and how to override it
Shift perspective from "what could go wrong?" to "what if this works out?"
Turn overwhelming goals into actionable steps you can start today
Build adaptability as a skill, and stop just hoping for the best
Perfect for: Organisations and teams facing or following transformation, or with ambitious plans.
The 1% Start: Building Momentum with Small Actions
Research shows 92% of transformation plans fail, but people who break goals into tiny actions and celebrate small wins are 75% more likely to stick with them. This session tackles why we sabotage ourselves by waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ and introduces a two-step process to achieve our goals. Learn the formula that creates momentum - the same approach companies like Duolingo use to keep millions of people motivated.The 1% Start: Building Momentum with Small Actions
Key Takeaways:
Break big goals into tiny actions that work
Overcome common roadblocks that trip us up
Build new behaviours using the same neuroscience that powers habit-forming apps
Stop waiting for the ‘right time’ and start today
Perfect for: Team building days, planning workshops, ERGs
Rocks, Pebbles, Sand: Master the Art of Prioritisation
We have more tools than ever to take work off our plates, yet overwhelm and burnout are on the rise. Calendars control us, to-do lists grow longer, and everything feels urgent. This session introduces the Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand framework—a simple way to move from overwhelm to order by identifying true priorities, distinguishing them from important-but-not-critical tasks, and stopping low-value, busywork from stealing your time. You'll also get AI prompts to help break down complex tasks and schedule realistically around your natural energy patterns.Rocks, Pebbles, Sand: Master the Art of Prioritisation
Key Takeaways:
Identify your rocks (true priorities) and protect them ruthlessly
Use the 80/20 rule to determine what's ‘good enough’
Master strategic time blocking to protect your prime hours
Break overwhelming work into manageable pieces
Build reflection habits to keep improving your approach
Perfect for: Teams experiencing overwhelm, organisations wanting to boost productivity without adding hours, or anyone ready to stop filling their days with sand.
Building Momentum Through Change -Workshop
Big, ambitious goals don't fail because people aren't capable - they fail because we're working against how our brains are wired. When faced with change, our prehistoric brains can't tell the difference between a physical threat and an opportunity, which is why 92% of our best intentions never happen.Building Momentum Through Change -Workshop
This interactive workshop tackles both the mindset and action needed to navigate change successfully. Discover why your brain resists change, learn to hack your natural negativity bias by shifting from "what could go wrong?" to "what if this works out?", and understand how Adaptability Quotient (AQ) can be developed just like IQ or EQ.
Then, turn big goals into Minimum Viable Actions - steps so small they feel almost silly.
Participants leave with practical tools they can use immediately—no fluff, just straightforward approaches to navigate obstacles and move forward with confidence.
Ideal for teams facing transformation, organisations with ambitious growth plans, or any group ready to turn big visions into reality.
Saying No, to Say Yes: Master the Professional 'No'
Have you said 'yes' to something recently, only to regret it? Many of us feel pressure to take on non-promotable tasks - the invisible work that fills our calendars but gets overlooked during performance reviews. The result? Overwhelm, resentment, and no time left for what actually matters.Saying No, to Say Yes: Master the Professional 'No'
This interactive workshop tackles why we struggle to say 'no' and provides practical tools to gracefully (and professionally) decline. Discover five types of professional 'no'—from the 'FOMO, but no' to the 'retrospective no' - and learn the exact words you'll use next time someone asks you to take on work that doesn't serve your goals.
Here's the mindset shift: saying 'no' isn't selfish - it's a gift. It helps others step up, creates space for innovation, and protects your time for strategic 'yeses' that actually advance your career. This workshop offers a tangible time dividend: your investment today will free up more time in the weeks ahead.
Participants leave with specific phrases that feel natural to use, strategies for handling pushback, and clarity on what deserves a 'yes' versus what needs a graceful decline. Spoiler: most professional 'nos' rarely involve the word itself.
Ideal for teams experiencing burnout, professional development programmes, or any organisation ready to help people protect their time and focus on what truly adds value.
Video
Kristen Lunman
I believe the words the audience used for Kristen were “bomb.com”. So many inspiring wahine pumped for Powrsuit! ... keep reading Humankind
Thank you so much, Kristen! Everyone loved you! I've had so many positive messages coming through.
Powrsuit may be spelled without an 'e', but it cannot be spelled without Kristen and Nat. They are the embodiment of power on stage: reading the room, tailoring the message, and riffing off one another to ensure their message carries weight and leaves a lasting positive impact long after the words have been spoken. We were fortunate to have them at Electrify Aotearoa and would gladly ask them to return.
You were super inspiring, Kristen Lunman! I loved your story, philosophy, attitude to life, and the opportunities and challenges it sends your way. YES! :)
Nat and Kristen from Powrsuit brought incredible energy while delivering a workshop on 'Saying No to Say Strategic Yeses.' Their expert insights on professionally declining non-promotable tasks were eye-opening and immediately applicable, equipping attendees to prioritise their work effectively. The evening was informative, engaging, and fun, leaving everyone feeling empowered. We've received incredible feedback on the workshop and how connected our community felt. A huge thank you for such a successful event!
Kristen, you are an absolute legend and so inspirational. I loved every minute of your presentation - I definitely learned that it's OK to say No.
