Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Helping people realise their potential
Company director Stephen Doecke has helped hundreds of people find their true business potential.
The founder of Blenheimbased Asset Insurance Partners, Doecke set up the insurance and risk management firm in 2013 after he spotted a gap in the market.
Among other accomplishments he was appointed to the Japanese New Zealand Business Council and named New Zealand Broker of the Year in 2016 by business insurance specialist firm PSC Connect.
The Australian-born broker specialised in commercial insurance and credited his grandfather with having taught him to look ‘‘beyond the obvious.’’
He began his business with the belief that the greatest risk to a business was not natural disaster but poor management.
Doecke set out to help change that.
He founded a scholarship programme to help promising people attend development courses.
‘‘I grew up in Australia in a town similar to Blenheim.
‘‘My grandfather was mayor and also ran various businesses.
‘‘He always used to do stuff behind the scenes and drilled into us that you can only take out what you put in.
‘‘I’m a firm believer that a better result starts with a better thought.
‘‘While I predominantly help my clients, that isn’t always the case.
‘‘I meet these people who have that special something. It’s intuition really and these might be people that just need that little bit of extra help.
‘‘We partner with a leading business leadership development programme and invest back into our customers to ensure the success of their businesses,’’ he said.
As a regional strategic partner of national business growth company Icehouse, Doecke, who held a senior role for a Top 100 Company in South Australia, said anyone could learn how to be a manager.
‘‘It can be read out of a book but leadership is something that teaches you to think differently,’’ he said.
Outside of work, Doecke is a committed community man and was a founding board member of the Marlborough College Charitable Foundation.
The organisation was dedicated to bridging the gap between government funding and the financial support required to enable Marlborough boys to truly excel.
Fourteen clients have attended leadership development programmes in four years with Doecke’s help and 80 clients and staff attended a two-day Leadership Challenge event in Marlborough.
He also arranged for seven young Marlborough businesspeople to travel to Japan on a free trade and relations business trip.
Helping out is something he feels passionately about.
‘‘Whether I win or not, I’m humbled to be able to help. It’s irrelevant whether or not I win to be honest as I know I’ve made a difference.’’