Ko wai au - Who am I - About me

Kia ora, I'm Gayle.

I'm a solo Māori māmā, speaker, certified life coach, registered social worker, podcast host and writer. But before any of those titles, I'm a mum to three incredible children, whom I've had the privilege of raising on my own.

If you'd met me years ago, my life looked very different.

I became a mum at 15. Two by 17. By the age of 25, I was raising three children while navigating addiction, unhealthy relationships, self-doubt, and the impact of the environment I grew up in. For a long time, I believed my circumstances would define my future.

I spent years in survival mode.

Eventually, I realised something had to change. Not only for me, but for my children. I wanted them to see that where we begin doesn't have to determine where we end.

The life I have today wasn't created through one big breakthrough. It was built through hundreds of small decisions. Choosing to take responsibility for my life, choosing to heal, choosing to keep learning, and choosing to keep moving forward even when it felt uncomfortable.

Those choices changed everything.

Today, I use both my lived experience and professional knowledge to support others who are navigating change in their own lives. Whether through coaching, speaking, writing, or sharing reflections online, my hope is always the same: that people leave believing they are more capable than they thought they were.

I don't believe growth is about becoming someone else.

I believe it's about reconnecting with who you've always been beneath the fear, self-doubt, and stories you've carried.

If you've found your way here, perhaps you're standing at your own crossroads. Maybe you're rebuilding after something difficult. Maybe you're questioning who you are or who you want to become.

Wherever you are, I want you to know this:

You don't have to have it all figured out to move forward.

You just have to be willing to take the first step.

I'm so glad you're here.