Courage, Community & The Outdoors with Izzy Zitzelberger

Episode OverviewIn this episode, we sit down with Isabelle "Izzy" Zitzelberger, the driving force behind Wild Chix—a New Zealand business empowering women to build confidence and independence in hunting, fishing, boating, and diving. Izzy shares her journey from moving to NZ from Germany to overcoming breast cancer, taking the leap out of a secure corporate role in the marine industry, and fostering a supportive, judgment-free community for women across Aotearoa.Key TakeawaysEmpowerment Through Skill Building: Wild Chix focuses on foundational outdoor skills—boat handling, trailer backing, firearm safety, navigation, and butchery—so women can enjoy the outdoors without depending on anyone else.Psychological Safety Matters: Creating a warm, non-judgmental "big sister" environment allows women to embrace being beginners and push past fear.The Entrepreneurial Leap: Moving from a secure job into full-time business requires embracing uncertainty, building operational frameworks (SOPs, compliance, health & safety), and taking small, consistent daily steps.Resilience Through Adversity: Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis at age 31 reinforced Izzy's drive to embrace positivity, stop delaying goals, and live life without hesitation. Highlights – Lifelong learning & personal growth philosophy. – Moving to New Zealand, living in an Auckland treehouse, and getting into land-based fishing. – Identifying the industry gap in marine sales and local hunting clubs. – What Wild Chix actually does: teaching ethics, safety, wind reading, and butchery. – The importance of emotional safety vs. physical safety gear on the water. – Taking the leap into full-time business, handling fear, and navigating compliance. – Industry recognition, seat on the Safer Boating Forum, and visiting the Beehive. – Mindset, choices, and everyday happiness ("If you're not changing, you're choosing"). – Overcoming breast cancer, hiking Lake Waikaremoana during treatment, and letting go of judgment. – Launching the nationwide Wild Chix digital community platform. Notable Quotes"For me, fishing and catching are two different things. You need to learn how to fish to catch, and you need to learn how to hunt to actually shoot an animal. We teach the whole process.""Allow yourself to be a beginner. Don't be perfect, because no one is. Step out of your comfort zone, achieve it, and build on those skills with amazing women cheering you on.""If you stay in your comfort zone, nothing will change. When you feel uncomfortable because you pushed yourself—that is where you grow."Links & ResourcesWild Chix Website: wildchix.co.nzInstagram: @wildchicks_nzFacebook: Wild Chicks NZ