In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren spoke with Ella Henry, a professor of entrepreneurship at Auckland University of Technology.
Henry has primarily focused her research, teaching, and advocacy on Māori media and business development. She has used her own heritage to better understand meaningful work through the ideas of calling and vocation.
Māori Culture and Meaningful Work
According to Henry, the Māori tend to use different language when discussing their work. In a traditional society, the elders would have assessed the skills of the young people in the tribe and raised them to train toward a specific calling. Even though that is not generally the way that society works anymore, the Māori still try to do work that is not just meaningful for themselves, but for their people.
Henry reflects on learning value from her father, who had a heart attack when she was young and was unable to continue working on the factory floor. Her father instead began working at the coffee cart at the factory, though his job change was somewhat embarrassing for Henry. She says her father reminded her that it’s a privilege to be able to choose one’s career, and that his meaning came from his energy and vitality, not the service he was performing.
Whare Tapa Whā
Henry draws on Sir Mason Durie's model of "whare tapa whā" to inform her perspective on wellbeing. The concept describes health as a holistic balance across physical, emotional, spiritual, and family dimensions. Henry stresses the interconnectedness of these aspects and their role in achieving fulfillment and purpose.
The Māori people believe that one’s strengths, community, and environment all play a part in guiding their path — meaning that one’s calling is not just connected to the work that they do.
Henry critiques Western individualism and capitalist structures, advocating for a return to communal values and relational leadership models rooted in indigenous traditions.
Looking Beyond Financial Wealth
Western culture links one’s work to their wealth. However, Henry points out how indigenous perspectives believe in various forms of capital beyond financial wealth.She explores social capital, cultural capital, and spiritual capital, highlighting their importance in fostering wellbeing and resilience within indigenous communities.
Henry also believes that shifting one’s attention away from financial wealth is the way to make the human race a “truly sustainable, connected species.” She stresses the importance of shifting focus from individualism to community-centered approaches, emphasizing the benefits of synergy and collective well-being.
“To be able to be part of a community that has that sense that it doesn't matter if you're the bus driver, or the mayor, or the property developer, because you're all doing these things for the same reason, which is the betterment of the community… that's my hope for us as a species,” she says.
Avoiding Burnout In Meaningful Work
The more aligned someone’s values are with their work, the more meaning they are likely to find from it. However, as someone becomes more connected to their work, they also put their boundaries around work at risk. This can lead quickly to burnout, Henry warns.
Henry relates this line of thinking back to the Māori people who seek work that relates to their own experiences, especially those who are attracted to work in health or social service. They are attracted to it because they have their own backgrounds of trauma, Henry explains. While one’s own experiences can be an asset in this type of work, it can also quickly become detrimental.
Henry emphasizes the importance of strong community support and mentorship in navigating these challenges.
Final Thoughts
Henry has focused her work on “rebuilding the worldview” of the Māori people, acknowledging the amount of information and knowledge that indigenous people have lost due to settlers. Her work has not always been met with open arms, either. She highlights the challenges faced in reclaiming indigenous knowledge, including resistance from mainstream academia and shifting political landscapes.
Henry ends by discussing the idea of combining indigenous knowledge and thought processes with those of the settler perspective. While she remains committed to promoting Māori science and culture, she also sees a value in weaving together diverse perspectives to create a new, holistic worldview.
In order to do that, society must put resources into preserving indigenous cultures and their world views.