Empowering women: 'I WANT IT TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE'

Through her new philanthropic not-for-profit, Annette aims to encourage people to become their best selves

- Elisabeth Easther

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Annette Presley rose to prominence as co-founder of Slingshot, one of New Zealand's earliest internet providers.

Annette flourished in the tech world, and over several decades formed and grew several multi-million dollar companies in tech, communications, energy and fashion, employing and mentoring thousands of people along the way.

Once described as Auckland University of Technology’s most successful dropout, Annette famously sued Telecom and won. She was also a judge on hit TV show Dragons’ Den. Beyond broadcasting and the boardroom, Annette has championed a variety of causes with a focus on women’s empowerment, education and child welfare. Her latest philanthropic endeavour is The Annette Presley Dream Foundation which aims to empower women, uplift youth, and support community groups across Aotearoa.

I was a happy child, always wanting to be more, do more and create more. Then something happened that changed my life. I was about 10 when I had my tonsils removed without any anaesthetic, but at the time, no one knew. After the operation, I kept saying, ‘spaceship, spaceship’, because I'd seen the lights when I was on the operating table. When you're in extreme pain, you don’t recall things clearly, but I do remember those lights.

From then, I went from being confident and outgoing to anxious and unsure of myself. For years, my mother took me to doctors who put me on all kinds of medication. One doctor even told my mother I'd never be normal. I’m so lucky Mum didn’t believe the doctors — she said no more medication, and she helped me become the person I knew I could be.