Entrepreneur and philanthropist Annette Presley ONZM pulled away from the public eye in the past decade. In a video interview with Capsule’s Vivien Beduya, Annette opens up about why she stepped away from the media, the tough cards she was dealt in her childhood and thriving in a “man’s world”. If you need some inspiration today, this interview is a must-watch. Watch it on YouTube now.
Trigger warning: Suicide ideation is mentioned in the video.
Living with a gang, violent parents and sleeping in golf courses are some of the things you don’t expect rich lister and telecommunications entrepreneur Annette Presley ONZM would have experienced in her lifetime.
In the early 2000s ‘Annette Presley’ became a household name, co-founding (and becoming the face of!) Slingshot. She hugely gained attention in 2002 when she sued Telecom for anti-competitve behaviour, and won.
What a badass.
Annette’s success led her to becoming a huge public figure. She’s had several media appearances, including being a judge on New Zealand’s version of the Dragon’s Den.
Over the past decade though, Annette has retreated from the limelight and focused on philanthropy projects.
Annette was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2016 for all her charity work, and just recently, launched the Annette Presley Dream Foundation.
The multi-million-dollar foundation will provide funding for groups that empower women and children and strength local communities.
But now she’s back – and she tells us all.
How growing up in a violent home shaped her resilience in both business and life. How, as a child, she had a tonsillectomy WITHOUT an anaesthetic. How she had to go through such a public divorce. Why she stepped away from the media. The tough realities she’s seen young girls face through her charity work.
But she also talks about the good. How her grandmother was her ultimate cheerleader. What it was like to be a woman in tech back in the day (and let’s be real, we still don’t have enough women in the field now!). And most importantly, why she’s passionate about helping people, especially young women.
Watch the full interview on YouTube now.
