I'm Frances—a creative leader, author, blogger and motivational speaker.

I’ve spent my career helping great ideas—and the people behind them—find their voice. Whether I’m helping build standout brands or dissecting the beautiful chaos of everyday life, my mission is the same: Never succumb to beige.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

My writing sits at the intersection of professional strategy and eclectic observation:

• For the Trail Blazers: In Brands with Moxie, I distil years of experience as a Managing Director and creative lead into eight actionable steps to build a winning brand. It’s professional practice without the corporate fluff.

• For the Curiously Minded: My "side hustle" and essay collection, Never Succumb to Beige, is where I let my Scottish-born New Zealand-dwelling spirit run wild. My aim, like my non-beige approach to life. These are stories about blazing a colourful trail through life and wearing your high viz vest with flair and panache

Why I Write

Like Sophia Loren, I believe mistakes are simply the dues we pay for a full life. That philosophy underpins everything I do. I don’t just want to inform; I want to entertain you, challenge your perspective, and remind you that the most interesting path is rarely the smoothest one.

I hope you enjoy my eclectic take on life, the universe, and everything. If my philosophy resonates, hit the ‘Subscribe’ button below so you don’t miss a story!

My Newsletter

My Books

Motivational Speaking

If you’re craving a monthly burst of creativity and inspiration, my newsletter, The Colourful Times, delivers just that! Enjoy inspiring stories, handy hacks, a healthy dose of humour, and exclusive first looks at my new book project. Ready for a colourful read?

I aim to make my writing as upbeat as possible, and I imbue it with all the brio and humour I can. I hope anyone who reads my stories is inspired, maybe a little challenged to think differently or more deeply, and maybe nod in agreement as they read because it strikes a chord.

I had fun at a recent International Women's Day event at Hawek's Bay Chamber of Commerce, asking the amazing women present What Colour Is Their Leadership Style and whether they're a Pink Bore or a Beige Disruptor. I'm in the branding business, so I took huge licence with the design metaphor.

My day job

Becoming managing director and owner of creative agency anddesign studio Moxie Communications in 2010 was the natural extension to a career focussed on helping great ideas reach the world.

I’ve worked with people and organisations of every type to help them create and manage standout, impactful brands and strategic visual communications.

I have also co-founded and built the brands of several businesses. These include a pioneering smartphone app for events and New Zealand’s first virtual events producer. I’ve held senior management and governance roles in four countries across several sectors.

I believe everyone should have access to high calibre brand thinking, so I've just launched our online learning platform the Brands With Moxie Academy. It's for people at any stage on their brand journey who understand that a compelling and believable brand puts them on a faster track to success.