Stronger leaders.Stronger teams.Stronger businesses.
Business ownership can be lonely. Kate Ross built a recruitment business from the ground up to 50+ staff nationwide, through the GFC, downturns and the pandemic, before selling to an overseas global after 27 years. CRE8 Advisory is the lived-experience sounding board you'd want before making the next big call. Sometimes you need perspective, accountability, and a team of specialists who understand the business journey.
How we work with you
Business mentoring
1:1 mentoring for owners and operators. Built from three decades of running, scaling and exiting a real NZ business.
Leadership coaching
Executive coaching for senior leaders navigating growth, restructure, or step-up roles.
HR
Practical, commercially focused HR solutions for growing businesses. Employee relations, investigations, change and strategic people advice.
Psychometric profiling
Objective, evidence-based insight into personality, behaviour and leadership potential. For hiring, teams, development and transitions.
C-Suite Transition & Leadership Advisory
Confidential, commercially focused support for executives navigating change, board pathways, promotions and the next chapter.
Succession and restructure
Plain-English succession and restructure planning for owner-operators and SMEs.
How an engagement runs
Five steps, no mystery.
Understand
Your business, leadership team, challenges and objectives.
Assess
Strengths, gaps, opportunities, risks and areas to improve.
Advise
Practical recommendations aligned with your goals.
Implement
Support through execution, accountability and change.
Grow
Sustainable improvements that drive long-term success.
We don't just give advice. We create progress: we become an extension of your leadership team, challenge assumptions, and stay through execution rather than handing over a report and walking away.
Book an hour
Book an hour. Come with a problem, leave with a plan.
Sometimes you don't need a programme; you need a focused hour. Bring one real challenge: a tough call, a people problem, a pitch, a plan, or a decision you're sitting on. You'll leave with a clear next step.
- A decision you keep going back and forth on
- A difficult conversation or people issue
- Pricing, structure or a growth move
- Prepping for a board or investor conversation
The people
Who you'll work with
Lisa Willis
Senior HR & Employment Relations Consultant
25+ years in senior HR and people & capability roles.
Full bioIn their words
What clients say.
"From the very first session, it was clear we were working with someone who understood the challenges we were facing and had the experience to help us navigate them. Our sessions were focussed as well as fun, and we have appreciated Kate's practical advice and ideas that have helped us refocus and move forward with renewed energy. We would highly recommend working with her. You won't regret it!"
Mike Swindale
Director - Principal Consultant, Talinger
"I needed a confidante, a guide, a mentor and a friend. Kate clearly saw where I was playing small, where I needed to elevate and what I needed to do. And someone who had been where I am now. Five months in and I had my biggest month in business ever! And I put that down to Kate's incredible guidance."
Radhika Lucas
Business Owner, NZ business
"Kate's mentoring style is direct, creative, knowledgeable, caring with a great sense of humour. She listens, gets things done, but we have a good time doing it. I really enjoy my sessions."
Rebekha
Business Owner, NZ Airbnb business
"I have worked with Kate for the last 10 months. We did everything together. Kate showed me how to be bolder as a business owner. I have thrived under her mentorship."
Tim
Business Owner, NZ scaffolding business
"I know personally that working with Kate has been so worthwhile. My business idea would still be that. Kate Ross has guided and helped me see the potential and we haven't finished. Worth every single dollar. Thank you Kate."
Wendy
Business Owner, NZ business
"Working with Kate through the startup of my business was both detailed and personalised, she is open and honest and leaves no stone unturned. She is someone who you can trust to challenge both your ways of thinking, and support you through the highs and lows. I simply cannot recommend her services more - the mentor who doesn't read from a book - she has hands on experience, and it shows."
Kathryn Evans
Business Owner, NZ business
"From the very first session, it was clear we were working with someone who understood the challenges we were facing and had the experience to help us navigate them. Our sessions were focussed as well as fun, and we have appreciated Kate's practical advice and ideas that have helped us refocus and move forward with renewed energy. We would highly recommend working with her. You won't regret it!"
Mike Swindale
Director - Principal Consultant, Talinger
"I needed a confidante, a guide, a mentor and a friend. Kate clearly saw where I was playing small, where I needed to elevate and what I needed to do. And someone who had been where I am now. Five months in and I had my biggest month in business ever! And I put that down to Kate's incredible guidance."
Radhika Lucas
Business Owner, NZ business
"Kate's mentoring style is direct, creative, knowledgeable, caring with a great sense of humour. She listens, gets things done, but we have a good time doing it. I really enjoy my sessions."
Rebekha
Business Owner, NZ Airbnb business
"I have worked with Kate for the last 10 months. We did everything together. Kate showed me how to be bolder as a business owner. I have thrived under her mentorship."
Tim
Business Owner, NZ scaffolding business
"I know personally that working with Kate has been so worthwhile. My business idea would still be that. Kate Ross has guided and helped me see the potential and we haven't finished. Worth every single dollar. Thank you Kate."
Wendy
Business Owner, NZ business
"Working with Kate through the startup of my business was both detailed and personalised, she is open and honest and leaves no stone unturned. She is someone who you can trust to challenge both your ways of thinking, and support you through the highs and lows. I simply cannot recommend her services more - the mentor who doesn't read from a book - she has hands on experience, and it shows."
Kathryn Evans
Business Owner, NZ business
Sense-check your next move with Kate.
30-minute discovery call, no obligation. We'll tell you straight whether mentoring is the right fit.