About Wā

The Name

Wā means time, space, and season in te reo Māori, the language of my people, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand.

It is a sacred pause between what was and what is becoming. It is both a moment and a movement, a returning home to the cycles that guide us, and an invitation to live and create with intention.

The Philosophy

Wā is rooted in a worldview I carry from my tūpuna (ancestors): transformation happens in rhythm. Aligning what is most important to us, individually and collectively, through this, we become powerful conduits for change.

Everything is connected. People, place, story, and time all speak to one another. We are shaped by what came before us, and we shape what comes next.

I hold whakapapa (lineage) as a living thread that links generations, and trust the mauri, the life force that moves through all creativity, problem-solving, and growth.

The Approach

At Wā, I work with visionaries who understand that how we show up matters. That the quality of our attention shapes the quality of our outcomes. That responsibility and creativity aren't separate, they're two sides of the same commitment to excellence.

Whether you're building systems, leading teams, crafting experiences, or exploring deeper meaning, the work is the same: bring your full capacity to what you're creating. Leave your signature on it. Do it with integrity.

You can blend the strategic and the soulful, the practical and the profound. The most powerful work lives at these intersections, where rigorous thinking meets intuitive knowing, where ambition meets care, where innovation is grounded in responsibility.

Our Values

Connection: We grow through genuine relationships, shared stories, and honest collaboration. Your network, your community, your ability to build trust, these are assets that compound over time.

Care and Reciprocity: Quality work requires quality attention. I hold space with respect and integrity, creating conditions where both people and projects can thrive. This means boundaries, sustainability, and giving in ways that create mutual value rather than depletion.

Self-Leadership: I honour your autonomy, vision, and right to choose your path. Whether you're driven by metrics or meaning, profit or purpose, I trust that you know what success looks like for you. My role is to help you get there with clarity and confidence.

Adventure: Real growth lives at the edge of the unknown. I work with people who are willing to experiment, pivot, and pursue what excites them most even when the path isn't fully mapped. Curiosity is a competitive advantage. So is the courage to try something new.

The Vision

Wā exists to guide visionaries, creators, and changemakers into deeper alignment with who they are and what they're here to bring into the world.

I bridge the ancient and the modern, drawing from te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), lived experience, nature's patterns, and global perspectives to create pathways that are both grounded and expansive.

Through ritual-led coaching, gatherings, and creative practice, Wā invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with the natural intelligence that already lives within you, the part that knows what matters, what's next, and what's worth your devotion.

This is more than professional development or spiritual practice. It's about becoming someone who creates with both craft and conscience. Someone whose work carries their signature. Someone who understands that what we build today shapes what becomes possible tomorrow.

Wā is the space where vision becomes form.

Tihei Mauri ora
Cleo Shortland, Visionary Guide