How Naomi Ballantyne Became NZ’s First Billion-Dollar Female Founder

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In this episode of Lead On Purpose, I sit down with Naomi
Ballantyne—one of New Zealand’s most successful entrepreneurs and
the first Kiwi woman to sell a company for over a billion
dollars.


From humble beginnings in a tiny three-bedroom house with five
kids and two parents, to building and leading some of the most
innovative life insurance companies in the country, Naomi’s story
is raw, riveting, and radically inspiring.


She shares how emotional resilience, relentless curiosity, and a
fierce commitment to doing the right thing helped her defy the
odds—not once, but again and again.


What You’ll Learn in This Episode:


Why growing up in scarcity sparked Naomi’s entrepreneurial
fire.

The mindset that turns adversity into advantage—and pain into
power.

How to lead with humility while building a billion-dollar
business.

What most boards get wrong—and how to fix it.

The surprising truth about strategy (it’s not what you
think).

Why parenting, not school, is still the most powerful
teacher.






Why You Should Listen:
Naomi doesn’t fit the mould—and that’s exactly why she’s been
able to break it. She’s built multiple companies from the ground
up, challenged a male-dominated industry, and led with heart,
grit, and an unshakable sense of purpose.





Whether you’re a founder, a leader, a parent—or someone who’s
ever wondered if they’re “good enough”—this conversation will
remind you that you don’t have to fit in to make a mark. You just
have to show up, stay curious, and never forget who you are.





If you want to lead with purpose—and on your own terms—this
episode is unmissable.





This episode was proudly sponsored by NZ Mortgages. You
can contact them here - https://www.nzmortgages.co.nz





Connect with Naomi on LinkedIn here -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-ballantyne-578b0a248/?originalSubdomain=nz







Get the Growth Weekly Newsletter sent straight to your inbox
and join 1000’s of other high-performers on the road to
self-mastery  -
https://www.jjlaughlin.com/newsletter



-----


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James Laughlin is a High Performance Leadership Coach, Former
7-Time World Champion, Host of the Lead On Purpose Podcast and an
Executive Coach to high performers and leaders. James is based in
Christchurch, New Zealand.


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