Rachel Petero
Founder & CEO, Rise
Biography
RACHEL TE RAU E WHA PETERO (NEE TAKA)
INDIGENOUS COACH ENTREPRENEUR, AUTHOR, GOVERNOR
With strong Māori genealogy to her tribal lands and people of Waikato- Tainui, Rachel advocates and drives gender equity, diversity and inclusivity through her leadership roles in governance, business and community development.
Coach Entrepreneur
Rachel’s management consulting business grew exponentially from 2010 starting in London, UK to Doha, Qatar and returning home to Aotearoa, New Zealand in 2015. She continues to receive recognition and awards and is the Founder of Rise Global, IWI Indigenous Women in Industry and Women Leading Change Qatar.
Rise Global is on a mission to help indigenous women rise one leader, one coach, one business at a time. Transforming lives is why we do what we do, coaching enlightened by indigeneity is our unique offering to the world.
Tahi is the first indigenous coach training programme in the world for indigenous women by indigenous women. Thousands of women have been impacted by Rachel personally and/or Rise Global programmes.
Professionally trained in Human Resources, Executive Coaching and International Business Development she remains globally focused and locally rooted in her indigenous identity and Māori culture.
Author
Amidst a global pandemic, in May 2020, Rachel secured a new partnership with Shopify Canada to launch ‘HIWA’ an e-coaching, e-commerce programme for Indigenous women. In the same year, she launched her first co-authored published book titled ‘Take Your Space’ sharing the secrets of 14 successful and diverse women.
Governor
Through her diverse governance roles and 16 years international experience Rachel maintains and invests in relationships and partnerships in the UK, Middle East, Pacific Islands, Chile, Canada and North America. She continues to hold a Cultural Advisory role with Otara Bluelight Committee, since 2016, and is proudest of the young Māori and Pacific Island women (14 – 17 years old) who have taken what they needed from the OBL youth empowerment programme ‘Te Huringa o te Tai o ngā Wāhine – The turning of the tide for young women’.
Alongside her husband John, (Niuean, Cook Island, Tongan) they are investing and expanding their portfolio to pass on to their six nieces and nephews. Rachel loves to travel, hang out with her whānau, and has visited 30 countries so far with many more on her bucket list.
Ko wai au? Who am I?
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Waikato te iwi
Ko Taupiri te maunga
Ko Te Wherowhero te tangata
Ko Tainui te waka
No Waikato-Tainui ahau
Ko Ngāti Tamaoho, Ko Ngāti Whawhakia, Ko Ngāti Te Ata, Ko Ngāti Tahinga ngā hapu
Ko Mangatangi, Ko Te Ohaaki, Ko Tahuna, Ko Weraroa ngā marae tōpū
Ko Rachel Te Rau E Wha Petero (nee Taka) toku ingoa
Governance roles:
- Ngāti Tamaoho – Board Director
- Te Rau o te Korimako – Board Director
- Unicef Aotearoa NZ – Vice Chair
- Te Ohu Whai Ao Trust – Co-Chair
- Otara Bluelight – Cultural Advisor / Mana Whenua