In this episode, we dive deep into the role of leadership from the top, exploring how government can model performance and create the conditions for business to thrive. Our guest, Hon Chris Penk (Minister for Small Business, Manufacturing, Building & Construction, and more), shares his perspectives on aligning public and private efforts to lift New Zealand’s productivity. 

We discuss: 

• Why leadership from the top is about clarity, consistency, and execution 

• How the government can move from a prescriptive approach to an enabling one 

• The importance of hearing solutions directly from businesses and building shared outcomes 

Highlights: 

• "The closer to the coalface that the solutions come... the more likely it is that it's going to be politically palatable" 

• "As long as you can build to high quality, it doesn't matter how you do it" 

• "We need to be as enabling of businesses as possible" 

• "The most productive businesses and nations don't succeed by accident. They choose to align, to act and to raise the bar." 

Thank you for tuning in to The Better SMB! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review. 

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn 

Rob Bull 

David Altena 

Learn more about New Zealand Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today