Ways to Wealth EP59:Farming, Finance, and Family, with Andrea Leslie

In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Andrea Leslie!Andrea is Executive Director at Primary ITO, the vocational training arm of Te Pūkenga focused on the primary industries. With more than 30 years of experience across education, governance, and hands-on farming, Andrea brings a unique perspective to the future of New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.She shares her unconventional journey—from kindergarten teacher to pig and sheep farmer to sector leader—and explores the skills that modern farming demands, from financial management to supply chain awareness. Andrea speaks passionately about the role of vocational training in helping New Zealand double its export value over the next decade, and how better on-farm practices can increase product value, citing examples like French rack lamb cuts.Key wealth-building themes include the value of strategic property investment, education as a credibility tool with financial institutions, and the importance of early inheritance distribution in intergenerational wealth planning. Andrea also reframes wealth as something broader than money—highlighting work ethic, family stability, and personal responsibility.This episode offers practical and philosophical insights for aspiring farmers, sector professionals, and anyone seeking to build meaningful wealth in New Zealand’s most enduring export industries.Check out Primary ITO here: www.primaryito.ac.nzWatch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #PrimarySector #VocationalTraining #StartUps #WealthTransfer #IntergenerationalWealth #Agribusiness #NZFarming #EducationAndWealth #StrategicFarming #ExportGrowth