Leisure & Inspiration

At Professionelle we often refer to our items in this theme as 'bits of fluff' and we are utterly unrepentant about them.

As professional working women, we know we're not machines. We all need time out to recharge, even if it's no more than the mini-break of reading a short article over a cup of coffee. If you're in need of a quick shot of inspiration, a laugh, musings on fashion (Galia's weakness) or droolings on Colin Firth (Sarah's ditto) you're in the right place.

You'll also find contributions here from other professional women who have unique perspectives to share. Their writings often touch on aspects of our lives that get pigeon-holed as "not work" but that nevertheless have the power to influence all that we do. Gratitude, intuition, spirituality.

So grab that coffee, close the door for a few minutes, and browse what we have on offer...

Latest articles

Page 1

  • 31 October 2011 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 3
    On Women's Health

    Galia shares her two biggest health-related lessons from her diagnosis with a very serious condition. Her hope is to help other women better manage their own health concerns.

  • 27 June 2011 By Roberta Budvietas, member of The Women's Information Network and Event Co-ordinator, New Zealand Comments: 0
    Let Your Voice Be Heard

    A world without poverty and hunger, a world with greater peace and enjoyment. It' s a huge agenda but social entrepreneur Dr Paula Fellingham is on a mission to make a difference, with the help of 1400 women worldwide. Roberta reports on how Paula developed her offline vehicle for change: Global Women's Summits

  • 20 June 2011 By Galia BarHava-Monteith Comments: 4
    Is BUSY the new status symbol?

    The socially acceptable answer to 'how are you?' has mysteriously become 'I am soooooo busy'. Is this apparently permanent state of busyness a good thing though?

  • 27 March 2011 By Denise Arnold, Founder of the Cambodia Charitable Trust Comments: 2
    One girl at a time in Cambodia

    Human trafficking: it is likely millions of people are affected. People are sold, lives ruined and lost. How do you combat trafficking? In my case, one girl at a time, through education.

  • 28 January 2011 By Janelle Fletcher, Speaker and Mind-Body Expert Comments: 0
    Forgot to Shave the Other Leg

    A visit to the beach provided unexpected insights into balance in our lives. As the author overheard comments by passersby and observed people's choices she began to distil different aspects of balance.

  • 12 December 2010 By Hannah Samuel, the Reputation Champion Comments: 0
    6 Steps to Protecting Your Reputation this Festive Season

    Christmas is traditionally the season of goodwill, but it's also the season of the reputation minefield that can leave you nursing more than a sore head come the New Year. Hannah suggests 6 simple and sensible steps to protect your hard-earned reputation and your career during the Christmas party season.

  • 05 December 2010 By Sally Mabelle, the "Voice of Leadership" specialist. Comments: 0
    The Grass is Greener Here in New Zealand

    When you Google books on happiness you get 151,000,000 results! If you just Google the word happiness, you get 76.5 million results. It's obviously a popular topic. People keep searching for happiness and yet many haven't found it yet! Do you ever get that feeling that you "should" be somewhere else, with someone else, doing something else "bigger and better"? That's a common feeling which keeps you from fully enjoying your own life exactly as it is right now.

  • 23 November 2010 By Angelique Jurd Comments: 0
    'Always Looking Up' by Michael J Fox

    Michael J Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the young age of 30. This autobigraphy follows the decade since his retirement from the hit series Spin City. Angelique found his reflections on faith, family and politics a thought provoking, often moving, and sometimes laugh-out-loud-funny read.

  • 19 October 2010 By Angelique Jurd Comments: 12
    Protect the Precious

    Integrity: can you sleep at night knowing what you've done during the day? In a world where social and professional boundaries are blurring, as social media speeds word of mouth reports, it's more important than ever to act in a way we are proud to own. Our good names are at stake.

  • 31 August 2010 By Orly Jacobson of Jugglefish, a juggling workshop Comments: 0
    Infectious and Catching

    Some passions we know about, others reach out to grab us when we least expect it. Orly Jacobson found 3 raw vegetables were the doorway to a hitherto unsuspected penchant for juggling. She is now building a unique business around it.