The value of Tautua Pasifika Mentoring and growing as a director

What is your relationship with your mentor and how has it helped your development?

Dame Teuila Percival and I met for the first time at Waitangi earlier this year, following an introduction by the IoD. We realised we were both part of the Pacific General Assembly being welcomed onto Te Tii Waitangi marae during the 2025 Waitangi celebrations. It was a lovely way to meet and kick off the year.

We’ve had a handful of sit-down meetings. Teuila is always happy to take calls to talk through any governance issues as they arise. We also sometimes see each other at Pacific community events and have a chat there.

Lisa Meto Fox (third from left) with Tautua Pasifika mentees, and Mele Wendt (far left) and Caren Rangi (far right).

What was the area of learning you wanted to focus on with her, and why?

Teuila has provided me with guidance and advice on a number of governance issues as they arose. More broadly, we’ve talked about the role of governance and my future within it.

What’s the best advice you’ve received so far?

To stay focused on the overall mission and health of the organisation.

How have you been able to actively use the above in your board roles or in leadership?

It reminds me to keep focused on the big picture and not get caught up in the detail.

What has changed, or clicked in your thinking since starting the Tautua Mentoring programme?

I realised, as a Samoan and Pacific person, I’ve been exposed to governance through my aiga (family/roots/heritage) through the fa’amatai (traditional political and social system).

We don’t call it governance, but that’s what it is. This exposure has given me a solid grounding in collective decision-making and collective responsibility. Identifying that and seeing it so clearly in Teuila, and others in the Tautua programme, is validating.

Why has it been important for you to go through the programme?

I’ve enjoyed doing the programme with other Pacific people who are in a similar place in their governance journey. It’s great to bounce ideas off each other, share opportunities and feel as though it’s a collective undertaking.

Also, it feels more comfortable attending governance training and knowing there will be others from the vasega (class) there. It helps me feel more at ease in governance spaces. Overall, the programme has enabled me to feel part of the governance community.

Lisa says she has grown as a director through the mentoring programme.  

Lisa Meto Fox

How have you had to balance other priorities – and what has been required of you following mentoring sessions? 

This year has been busy for both me and Teuila. I’m a self-employed consultant and have expanded the services I offer. At different times, Teuila and I have both spent time working in Samoa, so it hasn’t always been possible to meet in person. However, because Teuila has been so open to taking calls and text messages, I’ve felt supported – I’ve definitely continued to grow as a director this year.

What are you looking forward to as we near the end of 2025 (both life, work and through the mentoring programme)? 

I’m looking forward to our graduation in a couple of weeks. It will be good to celebrate with all the mentees, mentors and IoD staff. The relationships I’ve formed with other mentees, my mentor and IoD staff will continue and be an important part of my governance journey.

Find out more about the Tautua Pasifika Mentoring Programme and keep an eye out for updates, including how to enrol for the 2026 intake.