Claudia Zinzan, Owner of Retail Store Father Rabbit, Talks Advocating Change
To me success means… My family is happy and healthy because ultimately that’s all that really matters.
Best advice I’ve been given…
The best advice when I was younger was the classic, fake it till you make it. Nowadays that phrase has evolved into being content in beta mode. Being in beta mode means you’re focusing on progress, not perfection. Because if you wait until things are perfect, you’ll never start.
The most rewarding part of my job… is that it never feels like ‘work’.
Favourite book: I have lots of favourites but as far as interiors go you can’t go past, Remodelista: The Organised Home by Julie Carlson. It’s filled with sage advice such as buy fewer and buy better and to remember rooms are for living (so ditch the perfectionist), along with incredibly practical ideas to boost the functionality of spaces.
My goals for the next 12 months are… to be honest it’s so simple – that we just have a normal year without the current levels of disruption and time lost. Not that I haven’t learned many great lessons from this year, but I am very ready for a bit of normality.
The women who inspire me: Are generally pretty local in my business network. I’m constantly seeing women killing it in business and that keeps me motivated; like Mimi Gilmour for her high energy business sense; Lucy Marr for her commitment to brand values; and Kelly Muller, our digital strategist for her honest reflections on family and work.
Diversity in the workplace is… something I’m aware that I have a responsibility as a business owner to consider very seriously. I’ve always appreciated the concept of diversity at a basic level, but I am now more aware of my privilege, that I am in a position to help create and really drive it.
I advocate for change by…
VOTING! And at work I make an effort to consistently review things like emotional wellbeing of staff, diversity of our team and the brands we represent, along with our environmental standards and how we could do better. I also encourage an open and transparent working environment where everyone is encouraged to suggest different ways of doing things.
The change I want to see in the next 12 months is… New Zealand (and the world) has recovered from a traumatic year and we’re making changes for the better!
