Pathmakers

Leadership for a World Without Maps

A human-centred development community for midlife women leaders

Leadership is changing, and so are you

“When the map and the landscape disagree, the map is wrong. It’s time to forge a new path.”

Kate Billing

We’re leading in a world where the maps we’ve relied on for generations no longer match the landscape of life or business. Work is being reshaped by AI, demographic shifts, and escalating complexity. The workforce is ageing. The pace is accelerating. And the future is increasingly unpredictable.

In this environment, leadership isn’t about having the answers and following familiar paths. It’s about being adaptive, deeply human, and able to navigate through ambiguity with clarity and courage.

Traditional leadership models, often rooted in hierarchy, certainty, and control, are no longer fit for the current and emerging context. What’s needed now is a shift from expert-knower to curious learner, from hero-leader to community builder, from performance at all costs to leadership that includes well-being, a willingness to experiment, and sustainable ways of working.

And while this shift is happening around us, as midlife women leaders, it’s also happening within us.

Many of the women we work with describe midlife as a time of subtle, and sometimes seismic, transition. Confidence can waver, energy may ebb, and questions about purpose, identity, and ambition rise to the surface.

You’re still performing. Still achieving. But you’re also quietly asking: Is this it? What do I really want for the next chapter? Who is me V2.0?

This is not a breakdown, it’s a breakthrough. Midlife can be a powerful turning point. A time to integrate everything you’ve lived and learned so far, and become the leader you’re truly here to be.

At Pathmakers, we believe midlife women are uniquely positioned to lead in a world without maps, not in spite of these changes, but because of them.

We want you to know: you’re not lost, you’re arriving.

And you’re not alone. You’re in extraordinary company.

Is Pathmakers for you?

The challenges and opportunities of midlife leadership need a new kind of development. Recent research by NEXEL (a global collaborative of 25+ leading tertiary education providers) found two primary developmental needs for leaders in midlife:

The opportunity to recharge and reinvigorate for the second half of an increasingly long life and leadership journey; and
Acquiring the skills, knowledge and networks to transform into (1) who you want to become and (2) what you want to take on next.

Pathmakers is a human-centred leadership development community designed for midlife women leaders (45+) navigating the demands, transitions, and reinventions of life and leadership as we enter the second quarter of the 21^st century.

If you’re in a corporate or government environment, you’re likely in a Board, Executive, Tier 3, ‘Head of’, or Senior Specialist working at enterprise level. If you’re in a professional services or consulting firm, you may be a Founder, Partner, Director, Senior Associate, or similar level leader.

But roles and titles only tell part of the story. What really matters is that you’re feeling the inner and outer shifts that come with this time of life and leadership.

At the same time that you’re outwardly kicking goals and taking names, you may be:

Feeling flat, stuck, or stretched and questioning how long you can sustain the pace and pressure.
Balancing multiple roles – leader, mother, daughter, partner, friend – and losing track of yourself in the process.
Quietly backsliding in confidence despite your capability, credentials, and experience.
Navigating hormonal shifts and wondering why no one prepared you for this.
Longing for depth and meaning not just the next rung on the ladder.
Seeking development that supports you as a whole person, not just a position on an org chart.
Craving connection with other career-minded women who understand the complexity of this life stage, without explanation.
Wondering what’s next and who you want to become in the next chapter.

LEARN MORE about midlife women as leadership pathmakers and how this development community is uniquely designed to support you in life and leadership.

What others say about working with Kate

An incredible and valuable experience

“Kate has a facilitation style that grabs you, keeps you engaged, and completely immersed. She created a safe space for our group to share, learn and grow together. We all took away practical tools that will make a positive difference in our everyday lives and leadership.”

Claire Stuart
DEI Specialist

KNOWLEDGABLE WITH A SENSE OF LIGHTNESS

“Kate is absolutely fantastic. She is not only incredibly knowledgeable but has a real ability to read the room, develop empathy with the people with whom she is working, and get the best out of them. Despite some of the more challenging topics we covered, Kate approached everything with a sense of lightness and humour which I really appreciated.”

Marika Eastwick-Field
Partner

Surprised by my growth

“My growth has surprised me, challenged me, reassured me and given me confidence that what I bring to my home team, my work team, and to my community embraces all my parts. My priorities have been tested and changed, I am more deliberate in my actions, and I have a deeper connection my physiological self, my energy, and my presence.”

Maree McKenzie
Manager Resolution Services

Made especially for you

Midlife-Focused – We’re the only leadership development practice in New Zealand focused on midlife leadership. We understand that it’s not a crisis but a powerful turning point.
Small by Design – We cap our membership at 150 women. Why? Because depth and connection matter more than big numbers and global growth.
Creates Space – We know your life is full of roles, responsibilities and invisible labour. That’s why Pathmakers is designed to create space for you to breathe, reflect and connect.
Peer-Powered + Member-Informed – Our approach is co-created, drawing on the wisdom in the room. Your voice, your insights and your lived experience matter.
Blended Delivery – We combine the intimacy of in-person immersion with the rhythm of on-line connection to create both depth and continuity.
Structure + Freedom – We give you a clear, supportive structure combined with the freedom to engage in a way that works for you. We provide the scaffolding. You set the pace and decide on your inspired action.

Benefits of Being a Pathmaker

BELONGING & CONNECTION

A trusted community of like-minded, same life stage women who ‘get it’ without explanation, all navigating similar life and leadership challenges.

INSPIRATION & ENERGY

A consistent source of inspiration, fresh ideas, and positive nudges to stay motivated, focused, and invigorated, both personally and professionally.

ACCOUNTABILITY & MOMENTUM

A supportive structure that creates ‘positive tension’ to help you stay accountable for what you’ve said you feel inspired to do.

SHARED WISDOM & PEER LEARNING

Access to collective intelligence and hard won wisdom, sounding boards, and diverse perspectives to challenge your thinking and help reframe complex situations.

BRAVERY & EXPANSION

A place to build courage, take risks, step beyond comfort zones, and reimagine what’s possible for yourself and your leadership.

REFLECTION & PERSONAL RECALIBRATION

A dedicated time and space to pause, invest in yourself, and make sense of this dynamic life and career stage.

COLLECTIVE IMPACT & CO-CREATION

An opportunity to be part of a pioneering community that creates, innovates and shapes new futures together.

NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY & FUTURE READINESS

A source of information and insight about the future-of-work, leadership evolution, and the emerging context of life and business.

LEARN MORE about the how the Pathmaker Community Membership is structured and delivered to create these benefits.

What others say about working with Kate and her work with Senior Women Leaders

CREATES DEEP, HIGH IMPACT CHANGE

“If there is ever a time that we need the most human approach to leadership, it is now. Kate has the ability to help us look within ourselves, within the systems in which we work, and to ask the questions that lead to deep, high impact change. I never come away from a conversation with Kate, thinking about things the same.”

Sally Doherty
People, Culture & Capability Lead

EMPOWERED, VALUED AND AUTHENTICALLY HEARD

“Kate made me feel important, listened to, heard, valued and comfortable in what were at times uncomfortable and vulnerable moments. I am so grateful for her time and energy and openness.”

Linda Hanson
Analytics & Reporting Manager

TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY

“An indescribable journey of self-discovery that has impacted my personal leadership beyond compare. Nothing more to say except it has been what I have needed for over 10 years and it has rocked my leadership world. If you get the opportunity, be brave and immerse yourself.”

Edith Sykes
Chief People Officer

Join the Pathmaker Community

Applications for our Foundation Member intake close on Friday 25 July 2025.

FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP INVESTMENT:
First year special offer – $4,940.00 + GST*

Places will be strictly limited so that we can build a strong foundation community culture of safety, belonging, curiosity and growth over the first 6 months.

*Full membership information and details on how to apply are set out in the Pathmaker Community brochure.

We look forward to welcoming you to the community!

2025 FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

“Don’t go where the map may lead.

Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail for others to follow.”

Muriel Strode, American Poet, 1875-1964