In this presentation, I will explore how the Fatu Model (my own model), a Pacific leadership growth framework, can be leveraged to bridge Pacific values and promote Pacific leadership and wellbeing within organisations. The Fatu Model consists of various elements, with a focus on three key areas:
Su'esu'e | Assessing the Soil: Examining the organisational culture and its suitability for nurturing Pacific wellbeing.
Totogo - Sprout: Defining the hard truths about where Pacific disconnections exist within corporate structures. Tend | Fatu Fou: Cultivating and transforming mindsets and behaviours to create an empowering culture that bridges Pacific cultural values with Western management styles.
By aligning organisational practices and leadership development programs with the Fatu Model, companies can identify and nurture Pacific leadership values, provide safe spaces to harness ancestral intelligence, and capture the mana (power) that lies within Pacific indigenous frameworks. By bridging Pacific cultural values into Western management styles, this creates an empowering culture for organisations to engage, build, and promote Pacific people into senior leadership roles, bringing richness and diversifying perspectives and approaches to decision-making.
This is particularly crucial in the context of New Zealand, where Pacific peoples are one of the top 3 fastest-growing populations, yet they remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles. The disparity not only affects the wellbeing and mana of Pacific people, but also risks the loss of their identity and ancestral intelligence within the workplace.
Through this presentation, I will share practical strategies and case studies on how organizations can create more inclusive and culturally responsive environments where Pacific people can thrive and excel. By embracing Pacific
values, promoting inclusive leadership, and empowering Pacific voices, we can unlock the transformative potential of Pacific leadership and drive meaningful change within our organisations.