{"podcast":{"title":"The Better SMB Podcast","slug":"the-better-smb-podcast-7059551","podcast_index_feed_id":7059551,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6226633/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast--6226633","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/14cd7f93a65c46debcde9a3761caf5b6.jpg","author":"David Altena","episode_count":38,"summary":"Join hosts David Altena and Rob Bull as they delve into the subject of small and medium- business productivity in New Zealand. With a focus on driving operational excellence and business improvement, The Better SMB Podcast is your go-to resource for strategies, insights, and success stories from the front lines of the SMB sector. Despite New Zealand’s historical challenges with productivity compared to our OECD peers, David and Rob are on a mission to turn the tide. Tune in to discover actionable tips, expert interviews, and innovative ideas that will help your business thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, The Better SMB Podcast will equip you with the tools you need to enhance productivity and achieve your business goals. Connect with us on LinkedIn: @DavidAltena and @RobBull","last_synced_at":"2026-07-16T12:19:57.070175+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551"},"episode":{"title":"The Power of Community: Danielle Hancock on Strengthening Local Business in North West Country Business Association","slug":"the-power-of-community-danielle-hancock-on-strengthening-local-business-in-north-west-country-business-association","published_at":"2025-11-26T18:17:22+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551/the-power-of-community-danielle-hancock-on-strengthening-local-business-in-north-west-country-business-association","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-power-of-community-danielle-hancock-on-strengthening-local-business-in-north-west-country-business-association--68760328","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/68760328/5a085486_66c9_308e_cdb2_814f8aa27e66.mp3","summary":"In this episode, we spend some time with Danielle Hancock, General Manager of the North West Country Business Association, to explore one of Aotearoa’s most connected, community-driven business regions. We talk about what makes the North West so unique, the generational businesses that continue to thrive, and the deep sense of collaboration that sets this region apart. We also unpack the partnership between The Better SMB and the North West Country Business Association, including the launch of the Better SMB High-Performance Award – supporting SMEs with benchmarking, insights and practical next steps for lifting business performance. We discuss: What defines the North West Country business community The small-town collaboration and multi-generation businesses shaping the region Challenges facing “mum and dad” SMEs and why decision-making can feel lonely Why North West Country partnered with The Better SMB to lift productivity How performance reporting can strengthen business confidence and capability Listen out for some of these highlights: “This is the only community where everyone walks into the awards hugging each other.” “Mum and dad businesses make decisions quickly — they just need the right support.” “We want to create a bit of FOMO — we want others to say, ‘How do we get what they’ve got?’” Thank you for tuning in to The Better SMB! Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a review. --------------------- The Better SMB Podcast is sponsored by SetSeed , the all-in-one platform that redefines what a website can be. Smart, secure and AI-tailored to reflect your brand. No plugins, no patchwork, no problems. Just world-class software and support in one subscription. Discover more at setseed.com --------------------- Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn Rob Bull D…","meta_description":"In this episode, we spend some time with Danielle Hancock, General Manager of the North West Country Business Association, to explore one of Aotearoa’s mo…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1829,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551/episodes/the-power-of-community-danielle-hancock-on-strengthening-local-business-in-north-west-country-business-association/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-better-smb-podcast-7059551/the-power-of-community-danielle-hancock-on-strengthening-local-business-in-north-west-country-business-association.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}