Sian Simpson and Kiwi Landing Pad: An Entrepreneurial Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of Sian Simpson and her venture, Kiwi Landing Pad, a New Zealand startup facilitating business expansion into the US market. It explores Simpson's background, including her global experiences and personal development, and examines her entrepreneurial traits and characteristics. The report delves into the opportunity recognition process that led to the creation of Kiwi Landing Pad, connecting it with relevant entrepreneurial theories such as Max Weber's theory of social change. It further identifies the competitive advantages of Kiwi Landing Pad, particularly its community-based approach and government support. Finally, the report offers recommendations for the future growth and expansion of Kiwi Landing Pad, suggesting a focus on markets beyond the US and strategic partnerships to strengthen its business processes.

Running Head: MANAGEMENT 0
Entrepreneurship

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Background of the entrepreneur.................................................................................................2
Characteristics and traits............................................................................................................3
Opportunity recognition and development of idea process........................................................4
Competitive advantage...............................................................................................................5
Recommendations......................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
The word entrepreneur originates from the French word “entreprendre” implies “to
undertake”. Innovation and creativity ooze out of the pores of an entrepreneur (Chandra,
Styles and Wilkinson, 2009). On the wider side, the concept of entrepreneurship has a wide
range of meanings which emphasizes on new products, new markets, new production
methods and new form of enterprise. While such innovation brings out new demand, wealth
is created (Chatterji, Glaeser and Kerr, 2014). This viewpoint also helps in signifying one
significant function of entrepreneurship where combing various inputs factors in an
innovative manner will lead to generating value to the consumer.
This report outlines towards one of the famous entrepreneurs i.e. Sian Simpson and her
contribution towards community with bringing a New Zealand start-up named Kiwi Landing
Pad. This start-up was established in 2011 and its aim was to help New Zealand enterprise to
expand its business in the US markets. This report also discusses background of Sian
Simpson which includes her history, growth and socio-cultural background. The traits and
relevant characteristics are also being discussed in reflection with the significant theories.
Moreover, how Sian Simpson founded the opportunity and convert it into business ideas is
also analysed. The competitive advantage of Kiwi Landing Pad comparing to its competitors
is also signified with backing up of relevant facts. In last, several recommendations are
suggested for Sian Simpson and its venture for its future business and avenues.
Background of the entrepreneur
Sian has personal story that would describe how her traditional portfolio career was being.
She visited more than 45 countries and embraced ‘the future of work’ for almost a decades
(celebrityspeakers.co, 2019). She had also worked with various clients across the globe on
her previous career portfolio, however, her vital role initiated with heading up to Kiwi
Landing Pad with being a global community director. The company is start-up and
Technology Company with vision of having global aspirations and exporting
(kiwilandingpad.com, 2019).

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Underneath all her success, Sian also sat before on the dark side of depression, suicide and
severe anxiety, however, later on, she realised at 21 that everything that made her confident
was “on” her, and not “in” her. After realising this thing, she set out change and with
shedding all things back, she learned to define her own success.
Sian majorly spends her time in New Zealand and San Francisco and doing regular journey in
min international markets like Paris, London and Singapore. Sian also frequents various hubs
in US to say linked, develop community and study about major trends and influences
impacting NZ and the rest of world.
Sian also shared her ideas and views to thousands of people belonging to different culture and
background and thus champion a distinct learning style. She gains understanding about
innovation and technology from some of best leaders in New Zealand, Israel and Silicon
Valley. All it can be viewed as a conceptual framework of entrepreneurial learning that helps
her to activate entrepreneurial learning processes for transforming the beliefs and idea into
entrepreneurial practices later (Heinonen, Hytti and Stenholm, 2011). Based on this
background, the aim of this conceptual framework would explain the process of
entrepreneurial learning as an experiential process.
Characteristics and traits
Sian is a dynamo and expressed the vision, priorities and commercial context of Kiwi
Landing pad with grace, energy and intellect. Through her creativity and efforts, Sian
establishes Kiwi Landing Pad to be a bridge between New Zealand and the USA. She is also
a true global citizen who had visited more than 50 countries all over the world to foster
learning and building relationship with local influencers. Sian also a business minded women
who seek innovation in the various communities of these countries. She also exemplifies
philosophy of do not travel, live (linkedin.com, 2019).
NZSMJ, a well know sales and marketing Jam was also initiated where the experts of US
start-ups and technology will get a platform to share their networks and experiences with the
Kiwi Landing Pad business. After being finalist in 2015 and 2016, Sian was called the New
Zealand Global Women of Influence in 2017. Moreover, she was also the winner for
innovation and technology of the North Harbour Clubs prestigious AIMES award.

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One of his traits resembles that she is a content interviewer and strategist where she talks with
influencer global leader and develops digital information for their businesses and
management (Zampetakis, Beldekos and Moustakis, 2009). Hence, she was passionate to do
work enthusiastically in all the fields.
All this resembles here traits of being a successful entrepreneur with a clear vision,
passionate towards the work, tenacity to change and modify her plan as per the situation,
confidence in herself and the business, flexibility to try new approaches from various
countries influencers and so on. She also reflects persistency as she builds her own luck with
hard work and never stop learning or giving back. Therefore, traits also reflect entrepreneur
personality attributes (Nga and Shamuganathan, 2010).
Opportunity recognition and development of idea
process
Considering venture creation, opportunity recognition is a crucial process where
entrepreneurs perceive the possibility of initiating new businesses or enhancing existing
business. Generally, there are three fundamental steps in the opportunity recognition
signifying perception, discovery and creation (Gregoire, Barr and Shepherd, 2010). Sian
perception of taking New Zealand technology to the world so as to build a world-class place
help her to initiate business of Kiwi Landing Pad. She discovers more than 50 countries and
their top influencer to learn various things where Kiwi thrive in business, life and
environment. In last, she establishes the business with a growing community in dream of
exporting the business overseas.
In response with various theories of entrepreneurship, Max Weber theory of social change is
best matched with Sian Simpson. This theory advocates a sociological explanation for the
development of entrepreneurship as they play a vital role in determining the entrepreneurial
culture (Watson, 2013). Moreover, it urges spirit of capitalism as a fundamental concept.
Kiwi Landing Pad (KLP) was set up as a non-profit in 2011 which offers a landing point for a
rising number of Kiwi technology businesses wises to grow into the US. The philosophy of
KLP helps many companies by accelerating their business growth plans with the integrated
framework of knowledge, network and curated community.

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Currently, community of Kiwi Landing Pad has over 4,000 members in more than 36 nations
around the world. New Zealand Technology Company is hoping to break into the US market
and with Kiwi Landing Pad, it helps them to share the knowledge between those who have
thrived and those who want to prosper. It was also found that Sian Simpson never misses an
opportunity to learn and share knowledge as during NBR Radio Andrew Patterson, she
discussed her own path into the business world and how Zealand technological organisation
can effectively leverage their compatriot's experience and escape from their mistakes. She
also believes to be open to ideas from everywhere and then steals them.
Competitive advantage
Kiwi Landing Pad is making the journey of building a global business from New Zealand
easier. With using of technological advancement and building a global and virtual community
so that entrepreneurs, founders and talent can get access to what they need anywhere and
anytime (Kurt Christensen, 2010). It also offers communities to expand themselves into the
newer markets. This shift will lead potential New Zealand talent, start-ups, and entrepreneurs
to bring Kiwi innovation into the most competitive markers into the world. One of the major
competitive advantages of this community enterprise is the support they got from leading
business firms such as BNZ, Air New Zealand and NZTE (Nzentrepreneur, 2014). Moreover,
the New Zealand government also supports the organisation by means of funding.
Moreover, Sian Simpson had visited into more than 50 countries and considering her
experiences and learning from the influencer of those countries, it will be beneficial for her
and the venture to continuously flourish in the US market as well as other nations. In
addition, being a community organisation and support from government, the enterprise is not
getting fierce competition in the market and thus ensures the future sustainability of the
organisation.
Recommendations
Kiwi Landing Pad is an active community for entrepreneurs and by entrepreneurs and with
active support from the government of New Zealand, the venture is effectively accelerating to
success. Considering the future growth potential of this community organisation, the

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company need to focus other than US markets. For instance, Sian can consider the top nations
of previous year for entrepreneurs such as Germany, Japan and UK. This will help the
organisation to offer unique and relative perspectives to all start-ups and innovators in these
respective nations. In addition, the company can also set up joint venture with various other
community organisation in US so as to strength their business process between these two
countries.

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References
celebrityspeakers.co. (2019) Exclusive Gold Elite Speaker [ONLINE] Available from:
https://www.celebrityspeakers.co.nz/sian-simpson/#speaker-profile [Accessed 06/04/2019].
Chandra, Y., Styles, C. and Wilkinson, I. (2009) The recognition of first time international
entrepreneurial opportunities: Evidence from firms in knowledge-based
industries. International Marketing Review, 26(1), pp.30-61.
Chatterji, A., Glaeser, E. and Kerr, W. (2014) Clusters of entrepreneurship and
innovation. Innovation Policy and the Economy, 14(1), pp.129-166.
Gregoire, D.A., Barr, P.S. and Shepherd, D.A. (2010) Cognitive processes of opportunity
recognition: The role of structural alignment. Organization science, 21(2), pp.413-431.
Heinonen, J., Hytti, U. and Stenholm, P. (2011) The role of creativity in opportunity search
and business idea creation. Education+ Training, 53(8/9), pp.659-672.
kiwilandingpad.com. (2019) About Kiwi Landing Pad [ONLINE] Available from:
http://kiwilandingpad.com/about/ [Accessed 06/04/2019].
Kurt Christensen, H. (2010) Defining customer value as the driver of competitive
advantage. Strategy & Leadership, 38(5), pp.20-25.
linkedin.com. (2019) Sian Simpson [ONLINE] Available from:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/siansimpson [Accessed 06/04/2019].
Nga, J.K.H. and Shamuganathan, G. (2010) The influence of personality traits and
demographic factors on social entrepreneurship start up intentions. Journal of business
ethics, 95(2), pp.259-282.
Nzentrepreneur. (2014) WHAT IS THE KIWI LANDING PAD? [ONLINE] Available from:
https://nzentrepreneur.co.nz/kiwi-landing-pad/ [Accessed 06/04/2019].
Watson, T.J. (2013) Entrepreneurial action and the Euro-American social science tradition:
pragmatism, realism and looking beyond ‘the entrepreneur’. Entrepreneurship & Regional
Development, 25(1-2), pp.16-33.

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Zampetakis, L.A., Beldekos, P. and Moustakis, V.S. (2009) ‘‘Day-to-day” entrepreneurship
within organisations: The role of trait Emotional Intelligence and Perceived Organisational
Support. European Management Journal, 27(3), pp.165-175.