Amanda has worked with the Directors of Updraft as a Strategic Advisor to the Board for the last 2.5 years.
Her guidance has been indispensable, taking us from a mostly static position financially and size, to one of steady growth in revenues, staff numbers and importantly business strategy and maturity. Without doubt, we would be a long way from where we are now without her.
- Phil Hartwick
- Director
- UPDRAFT
Amanda was extremely helpful in advising me on a particular aspect of business strategy. Her advice was cohesive, broad, and detailed when needed. She has miles of drive and enthusiasm and I can recommend her without hesitation.
- Brian Calhoun
- Founder
- Geenee
“from the moment I first met Amanda, some years ago, I was impressed by her energy, curiosity and desire to connect people across her networks (which are considerable).
Since then we have worked together in a number of capacities and I consider her a trusted mentor, helping me navigate into a more strategic head-space when most needed”
- Michelle Harvey
- Group CEO
- Abletech Group
We love working with Amanda. For a start, she has a scarily good understanding of human nature. Combine this with her enormous experience and it is quite inspiring to sit back and watch her at work. If you are after someone to help define and refine your sales processes I couldn’t recommend her enough.
Amanda Santos is an absolutely outstanding example of a local leader who combines exceptional business acumen with superb skills in motivating teams, together with a genuine concern for people, their lives and aspirations.
Amanda Santos took up her role as CEO of Tekron in April 2016. Since that time she has set about the process of totally rebuilding the tech company that I founded back in 2002. In little more than 18 months, the transformation is all-encompassing, across sales and marketing, office systems, R & D and production manufacturing.
- Brian Smellie
- Founding Director
- Tekron International Ltd
Amanda motivates and energises you with her enthusiasm, knowledge and creative business insight. Highly recommended!
Amanda is at the forefront of customer discovery and development. Her knowledge and processes of this aspect of the sales process is crucial to anyone wanting to maximize their resources and impact.
- Alan Hucks
- Head of Business Development
- Creative HQ
Over the past 2 years, Amanda has proven herself to be an invaluable advisor to Resn’s senior leadership team, across all facets of our business, most significantly in the areas of sales and management behaviours.
Of Amanda’s many super powers, I particularly value her ability to simultaneously maintain a long term strategic lens for our business combined with responding to the many short term tactical issues that arise.
Resn is very fortunate to have an Amanda Santos in our corner.
maybe you could just shorten it to “Amanda Santos: Amazing!”...
- Jonathan Hawke
- General Manager
- Resn Wellington
We engaged Amanda to help us crystalise our company strategy and five year business plan, what we got was an incredibly passionate and approachable mentor who enabled us to think differently and really challenge our approach and values. I am confident we will continue to engage Amanda for as long as she will have us!
- Mike Walczak
- CEO
- Signify Limited
Amanda was refreshing in style as she was non-conforming, straight-up, open and funny. She provided an excellent range of ideas for people to think about and act upon back in their own business or workplace to make the workplace a better place for women. She came across as a real person with real experience and wisdom and her stories resonated with many in the room. She was very encouraging and gave everyone permission to think and change habits and structures.
- Helene Judge
- Kapiti Women in Business and Owner/Operator Kapiti Business Projects
Amanda possesses high energy levels and drive with a strong will to succeed. I have engaged Amanda to work with both my sales team and individuals - Amanda has made a positive impact in both areas and is helping to realise the potential within the team.
- Peter Royle
- Maungahuka Limited
Amanda has hugely helped us to change the way we approach potential work opportunities. She is a very incisive concrete thinker and strong communicator and has made a big difference in a short time, making us more effective in this all-important area.
- James McLean
- Founder, Story Inc
Amanda is more than just an advisor, she has significantly added value to our business, her advice has helped us build a fantastic culture and achieve double-digit growth.
- Simon Taylor
- MD
- Armstrong Downes
We have been working with Amanda over the last year. She has challenged us in our thinking and doing, she has supported us and provided advice from her own valuable real life experiences and she has grown us to start to think and act on our own.
Amanda is relatable, she gets with us and works hard to understand and use language that pertains to what we do and how we operate. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
- Joanne Kelly
- Principal
- Pynenburg & Collins Architects
Amanda supported Makers to think beyond our current mode of business and discover for ourselves the value of interconnected business models. At times she helpfully challenged our preconceptions and lifted our management teams to make positive decisions.
With the support of StratAspire, Amanda allowed us to delegate creating time to engage with accountant advisors and even new recruits creating growth and resilience.
- Jae Warrander
- Founder
- Makers
Amanda motivates and energises you with her enthusiasm, knowledge and creative business insight. Highly recommended!
- David Rayner
- GM
- Crombie Lockwood
Amanda Santos has been invaluable to the growth of Lift Education over the last few years. Her combination of strategic knowledge and sales experience has really helped to shape our service business and to develop my leadership skills. Very importantly, in all her work with us, Amanda brings empathy and a sense of humour.
- Alex Collins
- Managing Director
- Lift Education
Amanda has been a key catalyst for our growth and strategic progression over the last few years. She blends her friendly, caring personality with an uncanny ability to hone in on uncomfortable truths - a potent combination in an advisor!
- Ronn Soukotta
- MD
- Fingo Ltd
