Allow your passion to become your purpose,
and it will one day become your profession
Mandy Chamberlin
Embroidery Artist/Digitizer
People Analyst
Co-Director of Network NZ
I often struggle to really describe myself to others and thinking about this recently, I wonder if it’s because I have spent my life following my passion. Everything I do, while it may seem quite varied, fulfils me in different ways.
I truly believe we need to partake in a wide range of experiences in life to find the ones that really light the fire inside of us and these things could change over time as we evolve with life.
Passion is a major driver in my life and when I look at all the places life has lead me to recently, the themes of helping, motivating and encouraging others has really emerged.
Veronica and Me Designs
My business that drives my creative side where I’m all about converting your pictures into embroidery stitches! Through this business I create embroidery designs to sell, offer embroidery digitizing servicesto other embroiderers around the world as well as local embroidery servicesto the New Zealand market.
Echidna Sewing Supplies New Zealand
At the end of 2018 I became the NZ Manager for Echidna Sewing Supplies. My quest to make friends with other embroiderers and get us access to better embroidery resources in NZ lead me to this unique role that was created specifically for me. I offer support to Echidna’s NZ customers base as well as sell Brother New Zealand sewing and embroidery machines around NZ.
Network NZ
Network NZ is a business to business networking business which provides and online platform for New Zealand businesses to engage with each other in real time. We offer some in person opportunities along with promotional opportunities for members and training and resources.
HeartSpeak
HeartSpeak is a storytelling through fashion brand started by Amanda Betts, where you create your own jacket, bag, tea towel or other fabric item using a collection of pieces which you put together to tell your story. I am the embroiderer for the brand which has taken me on a really fun, creative path through the world of fashion.
Skills and Knowledge
- Embroidery Digitizing
- Networking
- Graphic Design
Optimizing Businesses of Every Kind, Every Size. Are You Next?
Background
and Education
I always wanted to be a lawyer, the criminal justice system fascinated me! My journey took a slight detour when I hit university though and I found myself studying (and loving) Psychology! Human behavior genuinely fascinates me, I love understanding what drives people to do the things they do. My interest in human behavior used to be really focused around crime, after finishing my degree (and trying out a couple of other career paths) I started working for the Department of Corrections in the area of Intelligence and I went back and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology.
When my first daughter Veronica was born, my life took a slightly different path though, after being in the prisons analyzing crime for a number of years, I was ready for a new challenge.
I stumbled across machine embroidery while attempting to make “mommy and daughter” outfits for my daughter, Veronica, and I to wear for a photo shoot and Veronica and Me Designs was born. What started out as a “mommy and daughter outfits” business has evolved rapidly into a customized embroidery and embroidery digitizingbusiness. Truth be told, I’ve never actually ever made a mommy and daughter outfit for anyone else since my business began!
When my embroidery business began, I naturally started looking for business resources and I stumbled across the Network NZ Business Community Facebook group– thanks Facebook algorithm! At that stage, it was just a Facebook group that Michelle Goulevitch had started as a means for business owners to hang out and share knowledge, it was one of a kind!
Being at home with a small baby meant that I couldn’t venture out of the house to join in person business networking groups so this group was such a sanctuary for me – and for many others who were either in a similar situation where they couldn’t (or were not confident enough in social settings).
In 2015 Network NZ became a business and after having a really awesome few months in the group learning, I was one of the first people to join the paid membership. My business grew so much after this and I upskilled a lot on how to be a business owner in New Zealand. I still wasn’t able to venture out much so I can attribute all of my embroidery business in the first couple of years of my business to my Network NZ alone. When my close friend, Candice Baker, decided to go out on her own I encouraged her to join too and we went on to purchase the business together in January 2018.