EXPERTISE
Globalisation, Culture Creation, Hiring, Leadership Coaching, People Ops
BUSINESS MODEL EXPERIENCE
B2B
EXPERTISE IN THESE COUNTRIES
Australia, New Zealand
Angela Waddell
Co-founder and Director People Advisory
Auckland
Angela supports founders and co-founders in navigating the human side of building and scaling a business, from how they work together, make decisions, and stay aligned, to how they build clarity, capability, and wellbeing within their teams. Her work focuses on co-founder dynamics, leadership development, and people strategy, helping founders strengthen trust, resolve friction, and lead with purpose.
Having been a co-founder herself, Angela deeply understands the highs and lows that come with building something from the ground up. For the past seven years, she has helped startups and scaling businesses across New Zealand strengthen their team dynamics and leadership foundations to support sustainable growth. With experience spanning over 100 ventures, from early-stage startups to established teams of 150 + people, she combines empathy and structure to help founders stay aligned and resilient as their businesses evolve.
Why are you passionate about working with startup founders?
I love working with founders because their energy and drive to create something meaningful is contagious. But I also know firsthand how challenging and lonely it can be when co-founders start to pull in different directions or when the demands of growth test relationships. Helping founders realign, rebuild trust, and rediscover their shared vision is deeply rewarding. Every healthy founder relationship strengthens the whole ecosystem, and that’s what fuels me.
What experience do you have working with startup founders?
I’ve worked alongside founders at every stage, from early ventures finding their rhythm to established companies navigating leadership transitions. My experience includes coaching co-founders through alignment challenges, designing founder and leadership programs, and facilitating the difficult but vital conversations around roles, decision-making, and values. I’ve also served as an advisor for startups on the Kōkiri accelerator and continue to support founders through The Icehouse and other leadership programs across New Zealand.