About

Our mission is to help businesses create sustainable change by getting their people to engage, communicate and collaborate more effectively.

Our story

We’re experienced in experience

With over three decades of local and international experience working in roles from the factory floor right up through the executive to the boardroom, we know first-hand that you can’t make sustainable shifts in your business until you have connection through attention (a higher engagement) with your people, an authentic journey of collaboration.

We care about people

So, through human-centered advisory, coaching and mentorship, we plug our expertise into your organisation as an auxiliary to discover what is getting in the way and how we can get you unstuck.

We’re adaptable

Because every organisation is unique, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we use our signature blank sheet process to identify the knowns and the unknowns that might be keeping you awake at night.

We listen. We ask questions. We challenge the status quo.

We listen.
We ask questions.
We challenge the status quo.

We forge forward together

Then, once we have spotted the gaps, we work with you to create a connection and put a clear roadmap in place, so your people know how to forge forward together.

We’re Hojo!

Tap into our world of experience and create sustainable change in your business.

Your business…

…our experience.

Our values

Trusted partner

Because we’ve had jobs at every level of business, we’ve walked in your shoes. So we bring that empathy, understanding and respect to everything we do.

Practical thought-leader

Our wide range of local and international experience has given us a unique perspective on the business world; one we like to share with New Zealand companies so they can connect on a global scale.

Reliable and honest

We lead with open minds and honest hearts. We do what we say we’ll do, drawing on our wisdom whenever we can. And if we’re not the right person for the job, we’re not afraid to say so.

Humble and inclusive

Then, once we have spotted the gaps, we work with you to create a connection and put a clear roadmap in place, so your people know how to forge forward together.

Are you ready to move forward together?

Use our experience to help your business.

We’re proud to have gained experience from amazing people located all around the globe.

“Great listener. Grounded, hands-on understanding of management issues. Thorough understanding of structured workplace processes. Andee draws on his years of experience managing staff to solve issues and make improvements, understands the pressures managers are under. We remain a family-owned business, with a mainly family board and have valued his independent view and balanced approach to protecting all the interests of the wider family in his role as chairman. His management background and experience gained over many years in various types of business have given him a base of knowledge to draw on that results in solid, independent advice, where he does not have the knowledge required to deal with certain situations his approach is to assist in finding the experts in the field of knowledge required."
Bruce Shields | Founder | Ocean Shell Ltd
“I would recommend Andee as a business partner who brings a wide range of skills and experience from a variety of industry backgrounds to bear on a business. His qualities and attributes include: Active listening, integrity, approachability, patience, intellect to grasp a business and its opportunities and threats quickly, strategic thinker, ability to engage with people positively and productively, and international experience. The most noticeable legacy in the company: An increase in open communication, an understanding and embracing of the need for robust forward planning to ensure success, a framework for employee engagement, and an understanding of the importance of the Company’s vision and values and an expectation these will be adhered to."
Nicola Williams | HR Manager | New Zealand
“Andee had a very nice reputation amongst the team at his Japanese customer, hence I was very keen to work with him and learn from him. Andee helped me understand, focus on people, long term and bigger picture”.
Isabelle Bernatchez | Vice President | EZDO SAS
“With Andee's business acumen and understanding as well as his great ability to work with staff, this meant our export markets grew and prospered. Even after Andee left to further his career opportunities, the markets overseas continue to ask after Andee and for some time after his departure, communication was continued because of the friendships and relationships he established. That interest in how Andee is continues today with our business contacts overseas.
Joe Bagrie | Director | Quality Foods Southland Ltd
“He has extensive worldwide knowledge of business, a thorough understanding of structured workplace processes, strong comprehension of management issues, known to be a team player with a “hands on” work style, and proven to be not only a great listener, but one that fully grasps what he hears. We expected competency and contribution but received results exceeding expectations. Mechanically, he began his work by engaging in dialog with individual’s at various levels in the organization across all functional areas. This assured inclusion as well as a comprehensive understanding from all inputs and points of view. He then periodically reviewed his findings and suggestions with critical decision makers and adjusted if/when appropriate. His approach gained an extremely high level of “buy in” across the board. Personally, he has been, and always will be, a great resource for business matters."
Tom O’Brien | Director | International Business Development
“Andee helped us in understanding of the technical and commercial aspects to the business, …he delivered a company that was investable, a product that was marketable. Andee was a professional in all the directions he was interfacing with and provided a calm and cool demeanour no matter what the situation. This combined with his depth of knowledge for me personally was impressive and inspirational and that legacy lives with me and only if all business engagements were like this. A strong communicator who can break down things down into understandable explanations to allow people with not as much depth of knowledge to know exactly what is going on.”
Graeme Saunders | Mitsui & Co
“We had been doing business for a long time before, and he has earned a deep trust with us. He always tries to listen to people and find a better solution together. We believe Andee will continue to be successful."
Tadashi Nakazawa | Founder | Chairman | Top Trading Co., Japan (and all staff)