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
Say ‘Yes’ to the Unknown - A Guide for Women in the Workplace
Most careers aren't linear - they're full of detours, dead ends, and complete u-turns. The question isn't whether you'll face these moments, but whether you'll have the courage to make choices that actually align with what matters to you.Say ‘Yes’ to the Unknown - A Guide for Women in the Workplace
In this candid talk, hear about a bumpy childhood and a deliberately squiggly career path - including the mistakes, missteps, and moments of doubt along the way. From launching startups in unfamiliar industries to walking away from corporate security to build something meaningful, this is a story about learning to back yourself even when the path isn't clear.
Discover three practical approaches that make career courage possible: how to learn while doing (instead of waiting until you feel ready), how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and how to shift your mindset to see the upside opportunity of saying 'yes' to things that scare you.
This talk is for anyone navigating career transitions, questioning whether to take a leap, or wondering if it's too late to change direction. Spoiler: it's not.
Ideal for career development programmes, women's networks, leadership conferences, or any audience ready to stop playing it safe and start building something that matters.
The Science of Seizing Opportunities
Ever hit 'send' on an email only to second-guess yourself seventeen times? That's not weakness - that's your brain doing its job. The problem? It can't tell the difference between a physical threat and the fear of failure.The Science of Seizing Opportunities
This dynamic talk reveals the neuroscience behind self-sabotage and challenges the "risk-averse" label. Women aren't avoiding risk—we're assessing it brilliantly. We outperform men in investing, drive higher profits as CEOs, and generate twice the revenue per dollar in startups. We're not risk-averse; we're risk-aware.
The real risk? Staying small while obsessing over "fake risks" like imperfect LinkedIn posts, while someone less qualified takes the opportunity, you're overthinking. Learn a framework for identifying your Minimum Viable Action - the smallest step that moves you forward - and discover why confidence isn't the prerequisite for action; it's the reward for taking it.
Ideal for women's leadership programmes, professional development days, or any audience ready to stop second-guessing and start stepping up.
Overcome Imposter Syndrome
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?Overcome Imposter Syndrome
In this thought-provoking talk, discover the surprising history behind imposter syndrome and why the term was never meant to be a diagnosis we carry around. Learn why constantly telling women they have "imposter syndrome" keeps the focus on fixing individuals rather than fixing the systems and biases that make them doubt themselves in the first place.
This isn't about denying that self-doubt exists - it's about questioning why we've turned a normal human experience into a syndrome that disproportionately gets slapped on women. Explore practical strategies to build genuine confidence without pathologising yourself, and discover why the real work isn't about curing your "syndrome" - it's about recognising your actual value and the barriers that make you question it.
Ideal for women's leadership programmes, DEI initiatives, professional development days, or any organisation ready to stop labelling women and start addressing the real issues holding them back.
Take the Wheel in Turbulent Times
When your organisation is going through restructures, budget cuts, or constant change, your people aren't just managing new processes - they're managing stress, uncertainty, and feeling out of control. Left unaddressed, this leads to disengagement, resentment, and people leaving.Take the Wheel in Turbulent Times
This practical session gives your team five straightforward strategies to shift from feeling like change is happening to them to actively shaping how they respond. They'll learn how to handle difficult emotions without getting stuck, separate assumptions from reality, navigate decisions they didn't make, build understanding across the organisation, and find ways to influence outcomes even without formal authority.
The result? Teams that stay engaged during uncertainty, leaders who model resilience under pressure, and a culture where people take ownership instead of waiting to be rescued.
Whether your organisation is going through transformation, scaling rapidly, or just operating in today's volatile environment, this session gives your people practical tools to stay in the driver's seat - even when circumstances are tough.
Ideal for leadership teams, employee resource groups, or all-hands sessions during periods of significant change.
Building Momentum Through Change
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
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.
The 1% Start: Building Momentum with Small Actions
Research shows 92% of massive transformation plans fail. But people who break goals into tiny actions and celebrate small wins are 75% more likely to stick with them long-term.The 1% Start: Building Momentum with Small Actions
This practical session tackles why we sabotage our own goals by waiting for the "perfect moment" and introduces a simple two-step process to actually achieve what matters. Learn how to identify actions so small they feel almost silly, and discover the formula that creates unstoppable momentum - the same approach used by behavioural science companies like Duolingo to keep millions of people motivated.
Participants leave with practical strategies to overcome common roadblocks like forgetting to take action, losing momentum, or feeling like progress is too slow. Because the truth is: small beats big every time, and that five-minute action you can do today will take you further than the massive plan you keep putting off.
Ideal for professional development days, goal-setting workshops, or any audience ready to stop waiting for the "right time" and start building sustainable change today.
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.
I believe the words the audience used for Kristen were “bomb.com”. So many inspiring wahine pumped for Powrsuit! ... keep reading Humankind
You were super inspiring, Kristen Lunman! I loved your story, philosophy, attitude to life, and the opportunities and challenges it sends your way. YES! :)
Thank you so much, Kristen! Everyone loved you! I've had so many positive messages coming through.
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.