Founder and CEO, GirlBoss New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand
This conversation was originally published in 2018 as part of the original Careering Conversations series.
We've lightly edited it for readability while preserving the original conversation and advice, and added an update on what Alexia has been doing since we first spoke.
At just 16 years old, Alexia Hilbertidou founded GirlBoss New Zealand with a clear purpose: to encourage more young women into fields where they're underrepresented and where they have the potential to make a significant impact. Two years later, when we first spoke with her, that vision had already taken her to some remarkable places, including NASA, where she spoke about making science more accessible and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
GirlBoss New Zealand was created to help young women develop the confidence, leadership skills and networks needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through events, workshops and access to inspiring role models, Alexia set out to challenge the idea that careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business and governance weren't for women.
Her motivation came from a simple observation. Despite increasing demand for STEM capability, too few young women were choosing these pathways, while leadership positions in business remained overwhelmingly male. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem, Alexia decided to do something about it herself.
One of the ideas that stood out most during our conversation was Alexia's definition of success. It has never been about titles or status. Instead, success has always been socially driven. She measures it by the impact she can have and the difference she can make through her work.
That philosophy also shaped one of the biggest decisions of her life.
Like many school leavers, Alexia assumed university would naturally be the next step. But after careful reflection, she realised the greatest opportunity to create impact wasn't in a lecture theatre—it was through continuing to build GirlBoss New Zealand. Choosing not to attend university wasn't about rejecting education; it was about recognising that, for her, the greatest learning opportunity already existed.
One piece of advice she shared has stayed with us ever since.
Rather than trying to choose the perfect career, spend time understanding the problems you want to solve. Once you're clear on your purpose, the career paths often become much easier to identify.
It's advice that feels even more relevant today.
We're often encouraged to choose a profession first and hope purpose follows. Alexia turned that thinking on its head. She identified the change she wanted to see in the world, then built a career around making it happen.
Alexia also challenged young women to push beyond their comfort zones. She believes confidence grows through action, not certainty, and that limiting ourselves too early can close doors we haven't even discovered yet. Whether that's taking a STEM subject at school, putting your hand up for a leadership opportunity or simply backing yourself to try something new, growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.
Alexia's clarity came through more than her age. She didn't have every answer, but she knew why she was doing what she was doing. That sense of purpose became the foundation for every decision that followed.
Since we first spoke
GirlBoss New Zealand has grown into New Zealand’s largest network for young women, now supporting more than 17,000 members with programmes running in more than 400 schools across New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands. Alexia has since been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, received the Pacific Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, completed a Master’s in Emerging Technologies, studied Leadership for Change at Cambridge, and now speaks internationally, including at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
What Alexia taught us
You don't need decades of experience to create meaningful change. What matters is having the courage to start, a clear sense of purpose and the willingness to keep learning as you go. Alexia reminds us that careers don't always begin with choosing a job—they often begin with choosing a problem worth solving.
