Smart Thinkers

Vale Iris Apfel, The First Lady of Style

Nicknamed ‘the geriatric starlet’ – by herself, no less – Iris Apfel became more enchantingly iconic with every passing year. When she died at 102, the native New Yorker was still informing and invigorating the fashion world in a head swim of dizzy reinvention, with her eccentric personal style, ‘can-do’ attitude, and huge round spectacles.

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Afghan women set up secret businesses to escape Taliban bans

Five months after Taliban supporters smashed up her restaurant, Afghan entrepreneur Laila Haidari opened a secret craft centre where women earn a small income stitching elaborate dresses and fashioning jewellery from melted down bullet casings. 

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Helping to build a resilient workforce

Merryl Semple facilitates emotional intelligence in the workplace which enables people to embrace challenges, feel energised by their contributions and feel that they belong.

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Struggles and triumphs of Dame Valerie Adams laid bare in powerful documentary

The sacrifices, struggles and triumphs of Kiwi gold medal sot-putter Dame Valerie Adams are laid bare in a powerful new documentary.

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Smart Thinker: From life under a dictatorship to the frontline of human rights

Maria Trogolo has spent her entire working life helping the most vulnerable achieve a better life.

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Use investing to help secure a rewarding future and unlock possibilities

Learn how three Kiwi women have used investing to help secure a rewarding future and unlock possibilities.

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10 fascinating facts you probably didn’t know about Queen Elizabeth

Some of the lesser-known facts about the world’s longest reigning Queen, Queen Elizabeth.

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5 life lessons we can learn from Meryl Streep

One of our favourite actors of all time candidly offers up some invaluable insights on a few universally confounding subjects.

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MiNDFOOD Travel Quiz

Think you know the world? Test your geography with MiNDFOOD’s travel quiz.

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Smart Thinker: Fashioning a new life for former refugees

Elisha Watson left her career as a commercial lawyer to create Nisa, an inspiring fashion social enterprise that employs and upskills former refugees and migrants.

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Marilyn Monroe: Screen Siren and Yogi

These beautiful vintage images of Marilyn Monroe show the star in yoga poses before the trend took hold of the world.

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Smart Thinker: The hairdresser creating spaces where all people of all backgrounds and hairstyles feel welcome

Despite not being trained as a hairdresser, Joan Dellavalle used her savings to create a hair salon where people of all backgrounds and hairstyles would feel welcome.

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Craigs golden rules of investing to help you get ahead of the game

The world as we know it is constantly evolving, but the events of the past two years have caused some changes to accelerate. Whether it’s where and how we work, the value we place on the health of ourselves and the planet, or how we plan for the future, the pandemic has forced choices and brought things into perspective.

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Smart Thinker: The Mind Lab’s Frances Valintine

With the onset of the fourth industrial revolution, our lives are becoming more entwined with new technologies than ever before. Founder of The Mind Lab, Frances Valintine, explains how we can welcome the changes on the horizon.

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When do you need a financial advisor? Experts explain how to make your money work for you

Often we think we should postpone investing until we have more funds, fewer calls on our money, or better knowledge at our fingertips. But the experts at Craigs Investment Partners say the best time to invest is…now.

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Investing with a social and environmental conscience

An increased desire by investors to invest in companies that are creating environmental or social advances not only makes smart financial sense – it also benefits the wider community.

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Smart Thinker: the Kiwi baker empowering conversations about mental health with cake

One Kiwi baker is empowering conversations around mental health one cake – and one smile – at a time.

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Meet the Maker: Tessa Lyes from Nevé

An inspired candle collaboration between Bayleys Canterbury and Nevé creator Tessa Lyes (above left, with mum Vicki) will raise much-needed funds for Christchurch City Mission. We sat down with Tessa to find out what inspires her. 

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Who is Ronni Kahn?

This month MiNDFOOD features passionate advocate, Ronni Kahn on the cover. So who is Ronni Kahn?

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GoodnessMe! Take the guesswork out of healthy eating with these sweet ideas

Designed to take the guesswork out of healthy eating (who has time to sit there trying to decipher nutrition labels?) GoodnessMe gives shoppers the unique opportunity to try some of the most sought-after health food products on the market. 

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Smart Thinker: A smell expert on the crucial connection between the nose and brain

Discoveries about our sense of smell may surprise those of us who feel it’s a less important sense than the other four.

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Smart Thinker: Aradhana Tewari

Aradhana Tewari is an Access Consciousness facilitator who teaches workshops called Right for Voice for You. She has worked with many people who have struggled in relationships and thinks one of the keys to a healthier and happier relationship is to become a little more selfish. We sat down for a Q&A with Aradhana to find why we should embrace a little selfishness in our love lives.

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Smart Thinker: Dr Yvonne Anderson

Dr Yvonne Anderson’s game-changing approach to the way we tackle childhood obesity, Whanau Pakari, is helping ensure our children don’t become a statistic.

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Smart Thinker: Psychologist Gwendoline Smith

She’s the best-selling author of The Book of Knowing, and now psychologist Gwendoline Smith is back with a new title to calm the busiest minds – The Book of Overthinking.

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