Lloyd Rakaupai

Brought up in Taumarunui on a farm, Lloyd Rakaupai (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Awa) says that as a child he was privileged to be surrounded by a community of ouststanding leaders.

This early exposure to “leadership by example” left an indelible mark on him, with Lloyd recently named as one of four Waikato MBA students awarded the Waikato Management School Emerging Leaders Award.

Lloyd recently joined the leadership team at GHD – an international engineering, architectural and construction firm with over 11,000 staff in 14 countries - as the Māori and Pasifika Business Leader for New Zealand and the Pacific region.

Since 2021 he has served as Deputy Chair of the Tauranga Māori Business Association, and in 2023 he was elected as Vice Chair of the Tauranga Business Chamber.

“I was brought up around my marae and my elders,” says Lloyd. “My kaumātua and kuia guided our community with love and support, and they consistently prioritised the needs of others above their own.”

At the age of 17, Lloyd joined the New Zealand Army and trained as an engineer, where his natural leadership abilities were often put to the test during overseas missions.

“I got to tour the world and see a few things, and worked with other defence forces on disaster relief projects. Joining the military, you are moulded from day one to serve your communities and country," he says.

"Learning to follow others first is an important step of leadership, and developing your own self-leadership attributes to become an effective leader.”

After 20 years’ service to the New Zealand Defence Force, Lloyd left to pursue a successful management career in the private sector, overseeing compliance safety training for over 300 clients nationwide.

Now he is ready to take his business leadership skills to the next level by completing an MBA degree at the University of Waikato.

“The MBA programme offers a profound understanding of business strategies and processes, imparting valuable insights through real-world examples,” he says. “It has significantly broadened my perspective and enhanced my capabilities in the business realm."

"The interactions I’ve had with industry leaders and my fellow MBA students have been an enriching experience, as I seek to evolve into a more authentic, capable, and impactful leader.”

“I would call myself a ‘servant leader’ because I find it more rewarding to help others thrive, rather than prioritising my own success. I believe in walking alongside those I lead, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone's growth is valued equally.”

Lloyd is strongly committed to using his skills to give back to the local community. In his spare time he helps to mentor Māori entrepreneurs across Aotearoa.

“Witnessing the impact of this support on their businesses, and subsequently on their families, brings me so much joy. This is my greatest source of motivation.”