Ruta Tonumaivao: Raised in a house of 30 people — and called to serve her community | PEP Talk S2 E6
In this episode of PEP Talk, we speak with Ruta Tonumaivao — community leader, systems navigator, and co-founder of Tapasā Navigating Futures.
Ruta shares how her leadership journey didn’t begin in an office or a boardroom, but in a busy West Auckland home where multiple generations lived together and service to family was simply a way of life.
From helping her parents navigate systems as a child to supporting communities today, her story shows how leadership often grows quietly through responsibility, culture, and care for others.
This conversation explores:
How culture shapes leadership identity
Why service is stronger than status
Navigating two worlds as a Pacific New Zealander
Turning lived experience into community impact
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