The third time was a charm for Claire Williamson who was named Emerging Leader of the Year at the Waikato Business Awards.

Applauded by judges for her bold, values-driven leadership and her commitment to empowering both her team and her community, Claire had entered the category twice before.

“When you enter and don’t win… it could be easy to get a bit despondent. But I knew I was doing some cool stuff and I’d taken on board the feedback from judges I had spoken with the past two times I’d entered. I really wanted to be able to have those conversations again because they were so valuable,” Claire said.

Through those conversations with judges Jason Cowan, Jess Fearnly, and Pam Roa – who was last year named CEO of the Year – it was clear that Claire had what it took to win the category this year.

The judges described Claire as “energetic, authentic, and purpose-focused”, saying had  built My Mortgage into a dynamic business known not only for its financial expertise but also for its genuine care for people.

Judges said her entrepreneurial agility – evident in the company’s expansion into other complementary offerings – showcases her ability to innovate and adapt in a rapidly changing environment.

Beyond business growth, Claire’s leadership stands out for its heart and self-awareness. The judging panel praised her openness to feedback, willingness to embrace vulnerability, and comfort with being challenged by her team. These qualities, they said, reflect a reflective and mature leadership approach grounded in learning and long-term thinking.

One of the conversations she had with the judges was around personal development and their question about what Claire was doing in that space.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work on my personal development, and it’s made me realise you can create your own development. I’ve been challenging the idea that personal development has to be prescribed or done a certain way. I believe you can grow through interacting with  other young leaders who have different perspectives.”

That has led Claire to talk with other high achieving young leaders who are keen to set up an initiative for ambitious young people to support each other – watch this space!

Describing herself as an entrepreneur at heart, Claire juggles many hats… MD of My Mortgage, she’s an author, a mentor, and a speaker.  She serves on the boards of Aroha Cambridge Trust, which aims to protect and restore the environment, and the Rural Communities Trust, championing initiatives that empower rural communities. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s working on a new business that will focus on investment – “supporting people with career ambitions to build wealth in a holistic way”.

So how does she manage everything?

“I’ve learned to let people do what they are good at and I do what I’m good at. I’ve also learned that it’s fine to work a lot if you love what you’re doing. I’m also non-negotiable about the time in my diary that fuels me …. the gym, food, time in nature. Doing those things that enable me to bring the energy I need to for each situation.”

Having realised that she loves “growing things… food, people, business, and community”, ‘Growing Kiwis’ is set to be the name of her podcast that Claire plans to launch in the new year.

“I think I might need a PA!,” she laughs.

On the subject of growing things, Claire is passionate about businesses having the ability to create impact in a community.

“I believe in giving back in a practical way… not just throwing money at something but asking yourself ‘what are my skills and how do I share that with the community?’. I think the more we can encourage business to make money and use it for impact, the better overall the community will be. It goes back to being the change you want to see and that starts in your own backyard.”

The judges were spot on when they said Claire’s success signals not just a bright future for My Mortgage but a new generation of conscious leadership in the Waikato business community.