Women aren’t broken, we just need a playbook
When Nat co-founded the investing platform Hatch in 2017, Kiwi were saving themselves poor. Existing investing platforms helped maintain the status quo - with jargon, fees and complexity acting as effective gatekeepers. So, Nat got to work re-designing the investing experience from the ground up. The result? Hatch transformed the financial habits (and futures) of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders.
Now she’s applying the same pragmatic approach to another complex problem: The gender leadership gap. Rejecting the idea that career success is dependent on more confidence and fewer career breaks, Powrsuit equips women with what they actually need to perform to their potential.
Nat and her co-founder Kristen draw from personal experience building high performing teams in high pressure environments. Through practical, engaging mini-masterclasses, workshops and keynotes, they help women develop the capabilities and connections needed to succeed in a system that wasn’t designed for them.
With a growing following of male allies and a focus on career fundamentals, they regularly tailor their high-impact sessions to suit any audience. And with workshops custom-designed for virtual environments, their impact is felt as strongly on Zoom as it is in-person.
Talking Points
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. 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.Building Momentum Through Change
Perfect for: Organisations and teams facing or following transformation, or with ambitious plans.
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
Perfect for: Leadership teams, employee resource groups, or all-hands sessions during significant change.
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
Perfect for: Team building days, planning workshops, ERGs
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
Perfect for: Women's networks, diversity programmes, leadership conferences/events
If Not You, Then Who? 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. This talk reveals the science behind self-sabotage and challenges participants to swap "risk-averse" with “risk-aware” and put their risk analysis skills to better use.If Not You, Then Who? The Science of Seizing Opportunities
Perfect for: Leadership development and professional growth programmes, leadership conferences/events, ERGs, diversity programmes
Saying No, to Say Yes
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 for what actually matters. This workshop provides tools to gracefully decline and introduces a crucial mindset shift: saying 'no' isn't selfish - it's a gift that helps others step up, creates space for innovation, and protects time for strategic 'yeses' that maximise your impact.Saying No, to Say Yes
Perfect for: Teams experiencing burnout, professional development programmes, organisations with ambitious goals, organisations going through a change in direction or focus.
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 busy work 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
Perfect for: Teams experiencing overwhelm, organisations wanting to boost productivity without adding hours, or anyone ready to stop filling their days with sand.
Video
Natalie Ferguson | Speaker Reel
Nat is a dynamic, energetic speaker who throws away the theory in favour of the pragmatic. She brought two decades of experience building high-performing companies and none of the BS to the ... keep reading Ministry of Awesome
Nat and Kristen from Powrsuit brought incredible energy. Their expert insights 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 & Nat from Powrsuit were the perfect addition to the Westpac Queenstown Women in Business Conference. Their advocacy for female leadership and empowerment truly shone through. From the outset, they brought incredible energy, maintained utmost professionalism, and were highly engaged in the lead-up to their keynote. Their presence added immense value to our event, and we look forward to collaborating with them again in the future. Thank you, Kristen & Nat!
We partnered with Powrsuit for an intimate International Women’s Day event at Mountain Club. Nat and Kristen got everyone actively engaged - crafting their personal brand story, practising it out loud, and giving each other feedback. By the end, everyone left with something, a simple and authentic introduction that they could actually use. What stood out was how they read the room and drew out the quieter voices, creating genuine connection among women - some who'd just met. We'd absolutely work with Powrsuit again.
