083: Beyond Diversity with Dr Cath Bishop

084: Coaching for Health and Wellbeing with Loshni Manikam

084: Coaching for Health and Wellbeing with Loshni Manikam

"I’ve learnt the power and impact of just listening to someone.”

Loshni Manikam, leadership coach, consultant, facilitator, and winner of the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2018, joins our host, Sue Stockdale, to talk about health and wellbeing issues for women in the dairy industry in New Zealand.

Loshni shares her personal trials as a wife, mother and partner in a dairy farm and the brave transition she made to becoming a coach, impacting the lives of hundreds of women, with ripple effects on their families and the communities they are part of.

Learn about the difference coaching has made to remote rural areas' health and wellbeing where coaching was unknown 10 years ago but is now helping an industry facing ever-increasing challenges, open to new possibilities. Hear how Loshni’s self-leadership and ongoing development set an example for her clients, encouraging other coaches to offer their services in less obvious corners of the world.

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Loshni Manikam

Loshni Manikam is a certified leadership coach, consultant, facilitator and winner of the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2018.

Initially a law graduate, she met her husband whilst travelling, and they have been equity partners and sharemilkers on a 600-cow farm in New Zealand for over 20 years. But after ten years of being a mother, wife and business partner, she hit a crossroads of 'not thriving:’ an identity crisis. Loshni set up a Facebook group, Thriving Farming Women, became a coach in 2021, and now connects and supports 900 women who want to make positive changes in their life while supporting the farming industry.

She holds a variety of roles with the Southern Dairy Development Trust, Federated Farmers Southlands, the Dairy Women's Network and is an Escalator Programme Coach and Facilitator for the Agri-Women's Development Trust. In 2021 she was asked to run workshops, such as Taking Time To Thrive -Without Feeling Guilty – a meeting tour backed by the Ministry of Health, Rural Women NZ and the Rural Support Trust. She is keen to explore opportunities for creating a positive change in the farming industry that puts people at the front and centre of everything they do and develops great leaders.