Michael Leng (ML): Hana, tell us a bit about yourself and how you ended up where you are now.

Hana Faamalepe (HF): I always had a passion for design but I took a detour after school. I followed the advice of career advisors and pursued teaching. It turned out I didn’t have the patience for children. I realised that I needed to follow my true passion, which was design.

ML: It’s interesting how we often put pressure on ourselves right after high school. What changed for you?

HF: Well, I found myself working at a gym and handling accounts. I met some cool people there who taught me a bunch of useful stuff. The owner even told me I was overqualified for the job. So, I faced a choice: stick with it or do something else. I’m not one to dwell on things so I resigned and decided to study design at Victoria University in Wellington.

ML: So, your journey into design kicked off there?

HF: Not quite. After finishing my time in Welly, I moved back to Auckland at 25, and the big question hit me: “What do I do now?” I ended up back in hospitality, where I discovered I enjoyed connecting with people. This would eventually lead me to Kada. While I was in hospitality, an opportunity came up to work for a flooring start up, which gave me my first taste of the design industry. Then, the 2020 lockdown hit.

ML: Of course, the lockdown era – a blur for many of us. What happened next in your story?

HF: Unfortunately, my journey hit a rough patch. I play netball and I managed to rupture my Achilles four times. It took a toll on me mentally, big time. But during this challenging period, Plumbing World approached me. I wasn’t sure how it would benefit my career at the time but I expressed my interest in shaking up their showrooms. I loved working with them and then another lockdown struck.

ML: And then Kada entered the picture?

HF: That’s right. Kada approached me. I was initially hesitant to make the move but something felt right about it. I figured it was another chance to take a risk that could either pay off or not. I joined Kada, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s been two years now.

ML: Quite the journey. What were the immediate challenges you faced when joining Kada? Moments of doubt or confidence?

HF: Good question. I find that if even just one person believes in me, it can boost my confidence. However, during the lockdown, it was tricky to build relationships and there was the challenge of getting to know the client base. Plus, I had limited experience in the furniture industry.

ML: It sounds like you had a supportive team at Kada. Did that support give you a confidence drive?

HF: Absolutely! When you’re approached for a new role, there can be expectations but I didn’t feel that pressure when I joined Kada. They’ve always believed in me and supported my growth. It gave me the confidence to work through my fears.

ML: What were those fears, exactly?

HF: I’ve always had to grapple with anxiety. Despite being friendly and outgoing, anxiety started creeping into other parts of my life, especially after my injuries. But when I joined Kada, weirdly enough, my anxiety decreased, and I felt supported.

ML: With that support in place, what were your next goals and aspirations?

HF: Public speaking was a biggie for me. I wanted to gain the confidence to speak in front of others and share my story. When I entered networking events, the successful people in the room often made me feel inadequate and doubted if I belonged. I spoke to the directors at Kada about my discomfort, and they looked for ways to support my professional and personal development.

ML: What tools did they provide to help you tackle this?

HF: Maurice gave me a pamphlet about a course called the ‘Naked Audience’ by Miriam Chancellor. It was a six-week programme that started right away. I realised it was a sink-or-swim moment and I needed to challenge myself.

ML: So, what was this course all about?

HF: The course was mostly online through Zoom. The sessions were an hour each week, and you could talk about anything you wanted. After six weeks, the final session was like a ‘performance’, the final speech that was for 10 minutes. That was stressful, especially since it was the first time we were all together in person as a group. The challenge was to channel that nervous energy into something exciting.

ML: Interesting! How did you turn those nerves into excitement?

HF: Before the speech, Miriam had us focus on deep breathing and relaxation. During the course, we developed an impact statement to calm ourselves in moments of stress or anxiety. Mine was, “No one here is here to judge you; they are here to listen, so don’t waste their time.”

ML: That impact statement sounds like a handy trick. What’s the most crucial thing for you when it comes to public speaking?

HF: Preparation is the name of the game. If I’m not prepared, I might disappoint people or fail to convey my message effectively. Practice is crucial to avoid feeling unprepared or forgetting my lines.

ML: Absolutely, preparation is key in public speaking. It’s great that you’ve learned that lesson. Have you ever looked back on past public speaking moments and thought about what you could have done better?

HF: Oh, definitely! Let me share a story. There was an event called ‘Model Citizens’ in our showroom last year and one of the architectural teams needed extra members. The challenge was to present our collective design efforts and everyone was hesitant to step up, including me. But, when I saw that no one else was willing, something inside me just clicked. I thought, “Why not?” It was way out of my comfort zone and I don’t know what got into me but I decided to go for it. I ended up giving the speech but it was a cringe-worthy experience. My voice was shaky, and I read directly from a paper with no personality. It felt like a failure and I was embarrassed.

ML: That’s quite a brave move to step up like that, even if it didn’t go perfectly. Speaking of improving your skills, you mentioned Toastmasters earlier. How has that experience been?

HF: At Kada, we did Toastmasters as a team. Our directors tailored it so that we spent two hours a day in a pod. It was an exciting experience because you often feel most judged by your peers or people who know you well. It’s different when you’re in a presentation mode. Each week, we had to give a speech for 3–5 minutes. It was a great way to learn about each other and how we can support one another. Presenting to clients in our showroom has also helped me become more fluid in my speech, with fewer “ums” and “ahs” and less filler.

ML: If someone out there wants to boost their confidence in public speaking, would you recommend Toastmasters or is there something else you’d suggest?

HF: Toastmasters is a step up from the ‘Naked Audience’ course. It focuses more on the delivery and content, refining your speaking skills. Toastmasters has a time limit, so you need to get your point across effectively and everyone needs to understand your message. So, if you’re looking to refine your speaking, Toastmasters is a great choice. I’d also recommend Miriam’s ‘Naked Audience’ course. Miriam is charismatic and empathetic and you can tell she genuinely cares. She has valuable experience in dealing with anxiety around public speaking.

ML: What’s next on your public speaking journey? Any upcoming events or challenges?

HF: At the moment, I don’t have any speaking engagements lined up. However, my next challenge would likely involve speaking within the CoreNet events. I’m interested in possibly moderating a panel and guiding conversations.

ML: That sounds like an exciting journey ahead for you, Hana. Your determination and willingness to embrace challenges are inspiring. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us today.

HF: Thank you, Michael. It’s been a pleasure talking about my journey. To anyone out there facing similar challenges or fears in public speaking, remember that growth often happens outside your comfort zone. Embrace those opportunities, keep practicing, and believe in yourself. You’ve got this!

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week click here.

Learn more about Mental Health Week’s five ways to mental wellbeing here.