From Titoki in Mangakahia, sisters Leah Timoko and Kirsty Tuhiwai are building a platform designed to change how Aotearoa thinks about employment. Whakapapa to Te Parawhau and Ngā Puhi grounds their approach, but their vision reaches far beyond Tai Tokerau. Their pakihi, You Will Find, was born from lived experience.

After returning to the workforce from parental leave in September 2025, Leah found herself job hunting for the first time in a decade.

“I hadn’t had to job hunt in 10 years,” she says. “I was shocked to see the process was still the same. I felt defeated and thought there has to be a better way.”

Instead of accepting the system, the sisters reimagined it.

The name You Will Find speaks to endless opportunity. “Search and you will find. Match and you will find. Hire and you will find.” It reflects their belief that employment should be about connection, not competition.

The platform allows job seekers to create one verified profile and choose who they engage with. Employers approach candidates directly, reducing wasted time and “ghost” applications. It restores dignity to the process.

“You Will Find is built on the belief that people are taonga, not transactions.”

The business reflects manaakitanga and tino rangatiratanga by putting control back into the hands of individuals. It is purpose-driven and grounded in te ao Māori values, with whānau and collective success at its heart.

“We are building not just a company, but intergenerational opportunity grounded in trust, fairness, and empowerment.”

The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Developing the website required outsourcing, and translating their vision to developers proved difficult.

“We knew exactly what we wanted, but getting developers to see and understand the vision has been a struggle.”

Still, launching their core product remains a proud milestone. “The world is our oyster.”

Their long-term vision is bold: shift the power dynamic in hiring from job-centric to people-centric. They want individuals to be visible and valued for who they are and what they offer.

Right now, their focus is exposure. Growing their candidate database will create the depth employers need to engage confidently with the platform.

For aspiring Māori entrepreneurs, Leah offers practical advice.

“Start before you feel ready. Clarity comes from action, not overthinking.”

“Back yourself, especially on the hard days. There will be doubt, criticism, and setbacks, but resilience is built in the doing.”

Most importantly, she encourages founders to align business with values.

“When your business reflects who you truly are, the motivation runs deeper than profit, and that’s what sustains you long term.”

Through purpose, persistence and whakapapa, You Will Find is quietly reshaping the future of hiring in Aotearoa.