Maggie Eyre MNZM, Director
Maggie Eyre is a much-celebrated presentations, personal presence and leadership coach and trainer who in 2023 received a King’s Honour and made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). Speaking with Maggie is like imbibing a good champagne; she sparkles with vim, vigour, and vitality!
Maggie tells us what it was like to receive “the call” about her honour:
Initially it was a shock as the email alerting me to the award went straight to my SPAM which meant I didn’t see it. Sometime later, I received a phone call from the cabinet office while I was out riding a bike on Ohope Beach, enquiring as to why I hadn’t responded and informing me that the deadline to accept the honour was imminent. I hastily accepted it and biked home immediately to complete two hours of paperwork, while keeping the whole thing confidential. Excitement and stress – quite hard to put together!
Once the awards were published, there was an avalanche of emails and social media. I’ve never received so much mail in my life; friends and people I worked with years ago were getting in touch. So many wonderful, kind tributes and responses. I was overwhelmed, very moved and excited. It was lovely to reply to everyone and reconnect.
The Governor General will bestow the award on September 7 – I’m super excited.
How did you choose your career path and what does it mean to you?
“At the age of eight I knew I wanted to be an actress. I’d been taught by Marist nuns, who were amazing. They were my heroines – possibly my angels. They were strong women leaders with feminist values and good at seeing the problems and strengths of different students. They seemed to get me and really gave me the message that I could do anything. Anything, back then, was acting!
I went to Teachers Training College and learned how to teach primary-aged children. That was great because you have to keep things simple in order to keep children engaged. It stood me in really good stead for teaching adults later on.
Theatre and performing arts were always important to me and I went on to train as a professional actor at Theatre Corporate. Prior to this I studied dance and theatre on a QEII Arts Council Grant in New York.
One day, the Director of Theatre Corporate, Roger McGill, asked me to design a course for a corporate group. I quickly recognized that theatre skills were transferable from the stage to the boardroom. Both sets of people need to be authentic and sometimes they’re vulnerable and feel outside their comfort zone.
Back then, I decided that one day I’d, set up a business bringing theatre skills into the corporate world. I have Roger to thank for igniting the entrepreneur in me. He first sowed the seed for me to start teaching and training in the business world. I’m forever grateful to him.
In 1989 I became the Founder/Director for the Performing Arts School in Auckland and worked in this role for four years. The school still exists but is now called TAPAC. You may find it strange, but I had a fear of public speaking, so I learned to manage it through teaching and ‘doing it’ every day. Understanding my fears helped me to help others with theirs. It was a gift from the theatre; a massive opportunity to earn more money and reach more people.
My late mother, Jean, was my greatest role model. From a family of 8 kids, she’d left school at 13 with no education. She was wise, welcoming, kind to everyone and always completely herself. I learned about unconditional love from her. Authenticity is everything in business. I see so many people stand up to speak and they’re a closed down, artificial version of themselves. Telling your own story and being true to what you believe in is what it’s all about.
Do you use your acting background in your speaking and training?
Yes. I did years of theatre sports and improv in TV shows like ‘Give Us a Clue.’ I know how to ad lib when my mind goes blank; I know about facial expressions, smiling and warmth, gestures, suiting the action to the word, the word to the action. Understanding stage craft with my acting background has given me a wonderful tool kit to use especially when I am giving a keynote speech and I pass on theatre techniques to my clients.
Another iteration in my career was a seven-year stint in a top PR Agency in Auckland. It was an important step in my metamorphosis from theatre to corporate stage. I learned so much from colleagues and clients about what drives business, and I could see that being able to tell your story, whether it’s at work or in play, is a key skill. My background as an actor informed my work at the agency which was a natural bridge to move into presentation skills training and building a business of my own.
What does the King’s Honour mean to you?
This honour is deeply important to me; it’s very moving to have my hard work recognized nationally after so many years. The award also belongs to my clients, the community, the boards I’ve represented, the people I’ve trained globally and my Fresh Eyre colleagues who stand alongside me as a team. As I assimilate the news, I can see how the award is returning me to my core values of service and making a difference in people’s lives.
Tell us more about your work, not only in the realm of public performances, but also in the community?
“I sit on two not for profit boards, TYLA – Turn Your Life Around and StarJam. It’s a privilege to work with both.
I’ve always been motivated to make a difference in life for kids who are struggling or have a disability, because I was a pretty mixed up, troubled and a rebellious teenager. I got into petty crime and was raped when I was 12. But I managed to turn my life around because I had a good education, mentors, counselling, and a lot of people around me who helped me work on my issues over the years.
I’ve been on the TYLA board for 10 years. The recent murders in downtown Auckland have brought this work close to home, because sadly the young person who went on the shooting spree was one of our rangatahi from a few years back. It’s so sad and disappointing; there’s still a lot of work to be done. We must show our kids that they don’t have to end up dead or choose a path of violence.
I’ve also been on the StarJam Board for 10 years. StarJam inspires young people with disabilities through music, dance, singing, and performance.
While the stories of StarJam’s young people are frequently punctuated by barriers, discrimination, and frustration, they are also stories of great hope and inspiration.
I feel really blessed to be part of these two boards. They’re both part of my tribe and bring real meaning to my life.
What have some of the roadblocks been in your life and career and how have you overcome them?
Like many people, I’ve had a number or roadblocks in my life – too many to share in the confines of this story. The two I’d most like to share with the Global Women community relate to health and the challenge of running a small business.
I suffered from endometriosis until comparatively recently and found it hard to manage a high-pressure corporate job while being in constant pain. I have also had on-going issues with depression. I’m proud of the way I’ve managed my health issues and have learned to inform myself thoroughly on the conditions, seek excellent help and advice and talk to others in the same position.
I’ve also learnt about the power of giving back. Getting up every day with a commitment to give to others is always a good strategy.
While I love running my own business and get great satisfaction from it, it’s also been very stressful and remains so. When you’re a small business owner, everything falls back on you. You need to be your own motivator, sales agent, admin. manager, CEO and CFO. I’ve always worked very long hours and, like many others in Auckland, found the Covid lockdowns very stressful.
I don’t have all the answers, but I know the most beneficial strategies have been to hire a coach to help manage and motivate me and work with trusted contractors who ‘have my back’. Staying in touch with family and friends and fostering reciprocal relationships is incredibly important.
As a member of Global Women, is our organization focused sufficiently on developing women as leaders?
Belonging to Global Women is wonderful! I’ve been a feminist since I was 17. I was active in the women’s movement and always got a lot of support from other women. I often turned to friends like Marilyn Waring and Sue Kedgley for support and advice. I’ve always had a lot of women friends, but more recently I’ve missed being part of a larger group of women with shared history and values. Global Women has become that place.
I love being with other like-minded women who share their stories about what it takes to lead, as women, in sometimes patriarchal environments. Women need these forums as we still have work to do to achieve gender equity, inclusion and overcome biases. We all stand on the shoulders of the women who paved the way before us and I feel called to do the same for younger women, whatever their pronouns, who are coming up today.
Belonging to Global Women makes me feel less alone and gives me a safe place to go and not be judged. I have huge respect for Theresa Gattung as a human being and a Chair, and for Agnes Naera as the CEO. So, the leadership I’m seeing so far is excellent.
Tell us about any of your prominent clients and what sets them apart from your ‘regular’ clients.
Over the years I’ve done quite a lot of working with high performance athletes and coaches in a number of sports – particularly in women’s rugby. They’re great to coach because they’re already used to being coached and are 100% committed to everything they do. I’ve also worked with a number of high performing women CEOs, directors, academics and with the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, and other politicians who have a similar mindset. They’re all people who expect feedback, have expectations, and aren’t afraid. They walk in with a positive attitude, ready to go. Leading one- or two-day workshops in business with my Fresh Eyre colleagues is my passion. It’s my happy place because transforming human beings to be more confident is what matters to me.
On the other hand, a large number of people I train in the corporate and business worlds aren’t used to being coached and start out by not being committed to being the best they can be. I want to help people become memorable, so we often have to break through a few barriers. One of the biggest hurdles is getting them to tell stories and use more down-to-earth everyday language.
However, it’s not just the “prominent” clients who make an indelible mark, it’s those who seek my guidance and mentorship to be able to break through what is holding them back from shining on their stage – whether it be as a panelist at a university conference, a speech at a wedding or someone who is “shy” and in search of a confident voice to live life more fully expressed. These too are the clients whose commitment illuminates my work.
Would you provide three tips for women to gain and grow their confidence in public speaking?
- Do your homework and be clear on what you want to say.
- Work out your key messages, tell stories and dump the jargon.
- It’s your job to move, touch and inspire people, so get your eyes off the page, connect with your audience, and always rehearse in front of people before you make your final presentation.
People can learn a whole lot more from my two books: Speak Easy and Being You.
Closing words from Maggie:
Everyday I’m grateful to be alive! I’m grateful to my clients because they keep me going and give me purpose. Every day, when they come in the door, I know in my heart of hearts that I can make a difference and help them succeed.
Keep on collecting your stories and be brave enough to put the important ones out there. Never ever give up!
Thank you, Maggie for your invaluable intelligence, insights, and inspiration!
All interviews and stories written by our Editor in Residence, Jenni Prisk (Global Women Member)
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