Former NZX Analyst Julia Jones has changed career tact and has recently taken the self-appointed title 'Chief Hope Officer for New Zealand' in a role in which she plans to 'help people find hope and self-belief''.
She told REX hosts Hamish McKay and Rebecca Greaves while it sounds really cheesy, understanding that whether it's immediate or in the longer term, there is good in everything.
"At the moment I'm helping people find hope," Jones explained.
"It's not about being positive and being absent of reality it's actually being positive and helping people navigate the reality.
"We know things can be shit, we know they can be tough, that doesn't mean that you can't navigate it and it doesn't mean that you don't just put one foot in front of the other and just do the best that you can tomorrow."
Jones said her goal is not to solve people's problems but to help them understand the best ways to deal with them and learn to navigate day-to-day life around them.
"This is not about telling people how to feel differently. If you're feeling sad or bad it's not about saying, 'you're wrong', it's about acknowledging those feelings and being able to make sure you have that sense of hope that that sadness or difficulty will shift tomorrow.
Having been made redundant from her role at NZX, Jones told McKay and Greaves it was hard dealing with that process but she is excited to take on the new opportunity that has come with this change.
"It was scary and it does terrify me, my instant reaction was 'I need to find another big role'."
From her position as an outsider who has a wide way of looking at things, Jones believes she will be able to provide an external, non-biased view of where companies and businesses can change their processes or culture to improve employee and/or customer experiences.
"It's a lot easier when you are watching the game from the sidelines to understand where the pass should've been or where the try should've been made.
"I'm not saying I'm going to have answers for you but I'm probably going to trigger some different thinking in you."
Listen to the full chat between Chief Hope Officer for New Zealand Julia Jones, Rebecca Greaves and Hamish McKay above.
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