Q&A SERIES // BEE THE CHANGE

Neal McAloon (left) checking on the Canyon Brewing hives PHOTO CREDIT: GO ORANGE

This week we got the chance to catch up with Neal McAloon from Bee The Change. His social enterprise uses apiculture as a medium for environmental education through beehive sponsorship. Educational signage is installed at the corporate hive locations as a way to inform the public on the vital apiculture industry. Neal’s also working to build an infrastructure of hives so in the future he could be in a position to assist with global apiculture issues – sending hibes around the world.

 How did Bee the Change come about?  

I had been keeping bees for a few years and our friends at Altitude Brewery asked if they could sponsor a hive, as they wanted to contribute something positive towards their local environment. This planted the seed and I spent over a year working on developing the concept. 

As an entrepreneur, what are the biggest lessons you have learnt so far?  

It sounds cliche but trust your gut. I come from a mountaineering and climbing background and sometimes, something just does not feel right. Go with your gut instinct - if it feels right, take a chance. I have also found it invaluable to listen to my early adaptors and made some changes to meet their needs. It’s good to have advisors but you can’t listen to all the advice all the time, cherry pick people to advise on certain aspects that match their particular skill set and experience.

What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?

I like variation in  my schedule. I usually have many aspects of the business needing attention at any one time so I like to throw myself into one of them for a half day then mix it up for the second half. This could mean developing concepts, general admin and work online in the morning, followed by an afternoon of practical work where I am hands on and moving. I find this way I can give a more concerted effort for the whole day rather than focus waning if I stick to one task all day.

What part of the Queenstown Lakes do you live in?

Queenstown

What do you love about this region?

The access to stunning wilderness areas and the can-do attitude of the people that have done the hard yards to make it work living here.

What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?

Cut away all the unnecessary fluff and work on the things that are real and are a step in the right direction. It easy to lose hours chasing avenues online that are dead ends. Spend time meeting real people whether that be early adaptors, partners, or mentors. In this digital age it is easy to underestimate the importance of connection and the relationships with the people who will ultimately be crucial to your success.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? 

Go into my son’s room to welcome him into a new day.

Can you share with us your company’s current big/or small goal?

Big Goal: Build up a strong apiculture infrastructure so in a few years’ time we will be able to export bees to crisis areas around the world.

Small goal(s): Deliver environmental workshops to community/school groups this coming season. 

Launch our new “Bee Friendly Zone” signs. We have been developing these to encourage people to realise that what they do in their own gardens has an impact on their local environment.

Who has been your greatest inspiration? 

Tough to name one but I suppose my Grandfather ‘Wee Johnny Murphy’ was a huge influence on my life. He approached everyone with a kindness, respect, and empathy that I haven’t seen many people capable of. Quite inspiring and it give me faith in humanity.

How has Covid-19 affected your business? 

Lockdown was business as usual for me, currently I’m the sole operator for the practical side of beekeeping. As an essential service we were permitted to carry out work on our apiaries and make sure the bees were ready going into winter.

Now coming into a new season, I have been reluctant to go and ask people for support, knowing like many of us they are likely to be struggling financially, but people have actually approached me and we are setting up new apiaries and branding sponsored hives, which is fantastic. I think Covid-19 has made people evaluate what is important in life and those that can are looking for positive ways to affect change, we hope we can facilitate that.

What is the single best piece of advice you would give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey? 

Be brave. It can feel like a lonely place at times going out on a limb with a new idea, especially when first going live or public about it. Surround yourself with good people, not just yes people. You need good people that will say, “No, that’s a daft idea.”

 Favourite meeting space in the Queenstown Lakes?

Up a mountain somewhere, but if it must be in town a coffee in the park is always good (in a reusable cup).

7 quickfire questions

Q: Name the last film you watched 

A: Peter Rabbit, we don’t watch much TV but my son was sick today, so we lounged on the couch and chilled.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world for 24 hours where would you go? 

A: Ireland to see family

Q:  Cats or dogs? 

A: Dogs, it’s not that I do not like cats but they are without doubt the biggest issue facing New Zealand’s Native Fauna and its about time people started talking about the elephant in the room when it comes to predator free NZ

Q: Name a food you could eat for a week straight?

A: Dhal

Typing or pen and paper?  

Initially, pen & paper

If you could have dinner with anyone who ever walked the earth, who would it be? 

Ghandi (mind you, he might not eat much), I was always fascinated by his sheer will and determination.

Q: Being an entrepreneur is….

…hard work but exciting to see your visions/ideas become a reality.