the journey of gROWTH hUNGRY

The story of Growth Hungry - by Nicole Hoeata (founder).

I had a job from the time I was 12 years old—sweeping floors and making boxes at Warehouse Stationery. From there, throughout school, I worked in hospitality and retail, and eventually found myself sticking with a role as a shift manager at just 16. I always felt a drive for more… I was genuinely excited about work.

In Year 12 of high school, most of my friends were coming to school just for lunchtime, enjoying the slow pace of life and making the most of mucking around with friends (fair enough—good on them!). But I decided to leave school, excited to start my career. I began by studying Office Administration, which included a paper on CV and cover letter creation. During and after this certification, I worked across a range of industries—construction, law firms, dance studios… you name it. I eventually stuck with a role as manager of a jewellery chain.

(You may notice the pattern: I naturally enjoyed the roles where I could lead teams and explore my independence.)

In this role, I managed to take my store from the bottom of the table in NZ to number one in NZ, and third in the world, in terms of KPIs. Through this journey, I realised a few things:

#1 I like being my own boss… and I want to have my own team one day.
#2 I lead the younger generation well—I know how to get the most out of them in their roles.
#3 The generational gap in the workplace is causing friction. It lowers productivity and increases turnover.
#4 I’m good at getting jobs… mostly because I’ve had a lot of them, haha.

I already knew I wanted to help people in their careers. I just love seeing people love what they do and get excited about their work. But I didn’t know what that would look like. So I decided to study again. I completed a certification in Business Coaching, Life Coaching, and Careers Counselling, with elective modules in Development Psychology, Entrepreneurship, and Motivation through an online university called Learning Cloud.

After studying, I went travelling solo through the UK and Europe, and when I got back, I felt unstoppable. I’d always heard that people only see the “year of success,” not the eight years of trying beforehand. So I thought: if I start now, I’ll be successful sooner. It was either “one day” or “day one.”

So I started what my husband calls “an Instagram page,” which I saw as the start of my business, haha. Then I built up the courage to begin working with some apprentice clients as a career and life coach. I quickly discovered that I much preferred working with those who knew where they wanted to be but didn’t know how to get there, rather than those who had no clue yet.

More importantly, I found that I loved working with my generation—Gen Z (ages 13–29). Eventually, that focus narrowed even further, and I discovered my passion for working with school students in Years 11 to 13. Naturally, the biggest area they needed help with was job applications: CVs, cover letters, and interviews. So I worked in that space for a while.

A friend then suggested having a booth at the Careers Expo—and that really launched my business. I partnered with the Rotary Club, worked with Tauranga Girls’ College, and eventually Tauranga Boys’ College as well. All incredible people who I am blessed to still have strong relationships and partnerships with.

After working with these schools for a good while, I realised—and received feedback—that I was making a big impact, especially with students gaining employment. Fast forward to being married and having my baby girl, and I decided it was the perfect time to go national with my business.

Now, in discussion with over 10 schools around New Zealand, and currently hiring to build the team I’ve always dreamed of leading, 2026 is looking incredibly exciting. I feel so blessed to be where I am today. I could not have done it without the handful of people who gave me and my business a shot, and those who mentored and encouraged me along the way.

And to you—thank you for being here.