Barbara Grieve
Business Strategist | BA (Hons), MBA (with distinction)
E: barbara.grieve@creativehq.co.nz
P: +64 4 381 4472 | M: +64 21 443 312
About Barbara
Since starting at Creative HQ in May 2009, Barbara’s husband and three daughters have got used to her coming home each night saying, “I have the best job in the world”.
That’s because the former General Manager believes there’s no better role than passing on her years of accumulated knowledge to business start-ups.
Earned a black belt in juggling family and career"
“It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to make a difference and pass on my skills and experience.”
Barbara does, after all, have a lot to share.
After completing an English Honours degree and an MBA (awarded with Distinction) at Otago University, Barbara set about fulfilling her goal to “be a Director by age 40”.
She joined a multi-industry company working for the owner evaluating new ventures, potential acquisitions and opportunities for growth and diversification.
Then with the floating of the NZ dollar in 1985, Barbara was attracted to the newly established and dynamic foreign exchange market. After nine months with a merchant bank, at the age of 26, she started her own foreign exchange consultancy which she ran until marriage, travel and children intervened.
Since then, Barbara has earned a black belt in juggling family and career. Consulting for companies such as Ernst & Young and in a freelance capacity has seen her develop strategic thinking, research and business skills that are now proving invaluable. And, as a former General Manager Corporate Services, Barbara has had responsibility for implementing best practice in strategic planning, annual planning, marketing, communications and human resources, as well as risk, financial, treasury and information management.
Consultancy work has taken her into all manner of industries, from health and government to insurance and social services – a diversity that mirrors the breadth of companies in the incubator. A former Director of Hutt Valley Health and member of the Institute of Directors, Barbara is also well versed in quality governance.
“My goal is to understand the challenges and commercial concerns facing each company, to work with them to identify the best path forward and to guide them to business success.”
Having learnt the secret to work/life balance, Barbara now works part-time and channels her energies into family, reading, singing, and planning the next big trip.
