Ant Carter - High Performance Business Structures

26/07/2026

On the ground in Melbourne with clients at ‘FoodPro 2026’. Over the next few days we'll be reviewing new technologies, meeting suppliers and identifying opportunities to improve operational performance and profitability. That's where strategy meets ex*****on.

12/05/2026

Not all strategic conversations happen around a boardroom table.

Last week marked the completion of another two-year 'Performance Excellence Forum' with a group of exceptional business owners from across New Zealand.
Over the years, I’ve learned that some of the best leadership conversations happen when you step away from the business for a moment. Away from the constant operational noise, people think differently. More openly. More strategically.

So we spent part of this final session aboard Sailing Vessel 'Knighthawk' exploring Rakino Island, followed by a day of robust business feedback and planning back on land.

There was plenty of laughter along the way too — including first visits to Rakino Island for a couple of the guys and even a first experience on a yacht for one of them.

My Navy background probably shaped my thinking early on, but I still believe the same principles apply in business today:

- Clear direction.
- Strong structure.
- Good people.
- Regular course correction.

High-performing businesses rarely happen by accident.

Grateful for the trust, honesty and commitment these forums continue to create.

Now charting the course for the next one.

21/02/2026

Some weeks are a great reminder of why I love what I do.

This week was a mix of boardrooms, big thinking, and time on the water with some fantastic business owners and leaders:

Monday – Chaired an advisory board for a manufacturing business in Mt Wellington

Wednesday – A retail client joined me aboard Knighthawk for a day’s sailing and an on-water advisory board meeting

Thursday – Strategy session with a manufacturing client in Takapuna

Friday – Hosted a retailer from Te Awamutu onboard our yacht Knighthawk, followed by the ‘NZ Breakers Awards Dinner’ at Princes Wharf

Saturday – Lisa and I had the privilege of supporting the Tania Dalton Foundation, taking the charity auction winners out sailing

Different settings, but the focus is always the same — creating space for business owners to step back, think clearly, and work on their business, not just in it.

Grateful to work with great people, in great businesses, and occasionally in some pretty special environments.

11/08/2025

There’s an awesome day’s sailing to be had here out of Gulf Harbour onboard an outstanding Kiwi designed and built yacht. We’re thrilled to support this great cause again this year - come and join us for a day out on the water onboard KNIGHTHAWK!

15/04/2025

13/04/2025

Best of the Best! The 'All Heart NZ' team were thrilled to take out the 'Excellence in Strategy and Planning' plus the 'Supreme Business Excellence' awards at the 'Best of the Best' 2 Degrees Auckland Business Awards on Friday night. That brings my time as Chair to a close and I proudly now hand the baton over as the team goes from strength to strength. Being awesome team!

04/12/2024

This has to be one of my proudest moments as a business Chair. Last night ‘All Heart NZ’ took out the award for ‘Excellence in Strategy & Planning’ and then the ‘Supreme Business Excellence’ award at the Auckland South & East 2degrees Auckland Business Awards. Years of work has gone into this - well done team, being awesome!

29/10/2024

Ant Carter - Chair, Facilitator, Speaker, Coach... and now Author!

Earlier this year I was asked to write a chapter in the book 'Peak Performance: Mindset Tools for Managers' and I am excited that the book is now available on Amazon. It has been an incredible experience co-authoring this project alongside 32 world-class experts.

To make the book available to as many people as possible, the Kindle version is available on Amazon for only $0.99 during book launch.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKTV2WBT

Download a copy - you may find something in here that can make you just that little bit more awesome!

Peak Performance: Mindset Tools for Managers (Peak Performance Series)

25/09/2024

It has been a fantastic couple of weeks exploring food-to-go options in London, Paris & Amsterdam. Oh, & w**e options in Bordeaux! It was a fortnight of exploring by day & working by night. I look forward to Lisa now flying in and scaling back the work & enjoying some R & R as we take in the Americas Cup in Barcelona & some Ch*****ne in, well, Ch*****ne!