Human Stories - Renee Murphy

Human Stories - Renee Murphy Hi there. I'm Renee Murphy. I'm a Brand Coach who helps small businesses attract their ideal humans. I work with businesses in the Manawatū region.

I'm a messaging strategist who helps down-to-earth consultants and business owners clarify who they are, what they do, and how to communicate it.

Have you ever wondered how you're coming across online?We're all too close to our work to see things the way our potenti...
18/09/2026

Have you ever wondered how you're coming across online?

We're all too close to our work to see things the way our potential clients do.

That's why I've put together a Personal Brand Audit package.

It's particularly useful for:

- Consultants, coaches and business owners
- Real estate agents
- People new to an industry
- Established professionals whose online presence no longer reflects who they are today

I'll review your online presence from a potential client's perspective and give you an objective view of how you're coming across.

I'll look at:
→ The impression you're currently making
→ What's working and worth building on
→ Opportunities to strengthen your presence
→ 5 practical actions you can take straight away

You'll get a concise Personal Brand Audit Report, followed by a 15-minute walkthrough where I'll talk you through the key findings and priorities. This will give you direction for how you show up moving forward.

If you'd like to find out more, send me a DM.


07/09/2026

In this age of AI, showing up as the human face of your business is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Photos are a great start.

And video is even better for building a connection with your audience because it gives people a sense of who you are in person.

That helps build trust.

How do you feel about showing up on video?

Last night at Women and Business, Personal Stylist Heather Hale shared her insights into personal style and wardrobe bui...
26/08/2026

Last night at Women and Business, Personal Stylist Heather Hale shared her insights into personal style and wardrobe building. It was a great session ❤

As Heather said, “The way we dress affects the way we feel, the way we act and the way others react to us."

People form an impression of us within a few seconds, and clothes and accessories are a big part of this.

They help communicate who you are. And they help potential clients decide whether they trust you and whether they can relate to you.

Over the years, I’ve leaned more into my love of bright colours and fun earrings. To me, these represent joy and energy.

These have become a part of my personal brand.

A couple of questions to think about as you build your personal brand:

What impression do you want to create through the way you dress?

Are your clothes saying what you want them to say?

If we’ve recently connected, hi there - I'm Renee👋I'm a messaging strategist who specialises in personal branding and st...
06/08/2026

If we’ve recently connected, hi there - I'm Renee👋

I'm a messaging strategist who specialises in personal branding and storytelling.

At Human Stories, I help businesses and professionals clarify who they are, what they do, and why it matters, so they can communicate with clarity & build trust.

I believe people connect with people – that’s why I’m big on building human brands.

Here's a snapshot of how I help:

For individuals
• Personal Brand Strategy
• LinkedIn Profile Strategy
• Coaching & training

For businesses
• Brand Story Discovery
• Brand storytelling strategy
• Coaching & training

I believe good people and good businesses deserve to be seen.
Helping uncover stories is my favourite part of the job.

Steve Davey has helped over 150 business owners sell their businesses.But when it came to talking about what made him di...
03/08/2026

Steve Davey has helped over 150 business owners sell their businesses.

But when it came to talking about what made him different, he wasn't quite sure how to put it into words.

Like many experienced professionals, Steve was just too close to his work to clearly see the value he brings to his clients.

Working under the ABC Business Sales brand, he wanted people to understand not only who he worked for, but why they should choose to work with him.

Through several discussions, we uncovered the qualities that have shaped the way Steve has built trust with clients throughout his career.

As we talked, it became clear that it’s Steve’s calm, steady presence and high level of integrity that sets him apart.

Steve guides both vendors and buyers through one of the biggest decisions they'll make in business. And he’s committed to achieving the best outcome for everyone involved.

That became the foundation of his personal brand.

Once we uncovered that, everything else had a clear direction. His messaging, online presence and the way he shows up professionally could all tell the same story.

Here's how Steve described the experience:

I started my working life as a high school health teacher, so I’m pretty big on health and wellbeing. Balancing work and...
02/08/2026

I started my working life as a high school health teacher, so I’m pretty big on health and wellbeing.

Balancing work and family life is a juggle! Staying active is key to feeling balanced. For me that means walking the dog, gym classes, and trail riding.

Over the weekend, we went on a family bike ride along the Shared Pathway to the top of Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway.

It was a good physical and mental challenge – I couldn’t think about anything else but keeping the pedals moving. I have to admit, I had a few stops to catch my breath along the way!

At the top we were rewarded with spectacular views across the Manawatū region.

After a speedy descent, we enjoyed a coffee in the sunshine at Gorge Quarter Store.

It was a lovely morning out. I highly recommend it.

If you'd like to learn more about what Te Āpiti has to offer, check out the brand new website - link in the comments.

I'd love to know - what do you do to stay active?

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at the EmpowerHer group on the topic of visibility.We talked about the little g...
30/07/2026

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at the EmpowerHer group on the topic of visibility.

We talked about the little gremlin that sits on our shoulder telling us why we shouldn't put ourselves out there.

"Who would want to hear from me?"
"I'm not ready yet. I don't know enough."
"This post isn't perfect, so I can't publish it." (Hits delete.)

Here's a powerful mindset shift.

Visibility isn't about self-promotion. It's about the people you're here to help.

When we consistently show up, we build trust. Trust leads to connection. Connection leads to conversations. And conversations create opportunities.

It's about making it easier for the right people to find you, understand what you stand for, and feel confident choosing you.

That's why getting clear on your personal brand matters.

When you know who you are, what you stand for and how you want to show up, being visible is easier.

At the end of the session, everyone made one commitment to increase their visibility over the next 30 days.

Some of those commitments included:
• Recording a video tour of new premises.
• Posting on LinkedIn for the first time.
• Running an in-person workshop.
• Refreshing LinkedIn profile.

It was great to see people swap contact details so they could encourage each other and stay accountable over the next month.

Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the discussion, and to Tina Rush for inviting me to speak.

If you're a woman in business looking for practical learning, encouragement and connection, keep an eye out for future EmpowerHer events.

You know you're good at what you do... but do you ever struggle to put it into words?Maybe you leave a networking event ...
27/07/2026

You know you're good at what you do... but do you ever struggle to put it into words?

Maybe you leave a networking event wondering if people really understood what you do and who you help.

If that sounds familiar, the next EmpowerHer Community Manawatū event is for you.

Organised by the wonderful Tina Rush, this month’s topic is Visibility & Owning Your Presence Online & In Person.

I’ll be leading this practical, hands-on session where you'll:

• Understand your current visibility

• Clarify what you want to be known for

• Feel more confident talking about what you do

• Leave with practical next steps

You don't need to be an Empower Her member to attend.

Whether you're a business owner or professional, you'll leave with greater clarity and confidence about how you show up and communicate your value.

We’d love to see you there.

The link for tickets is below 👇

When I started Human Stories, I was happy working behind the scenes.I loved helping other people tell their stories.Then...
27/07/2026

When I started Human Stories, I was happy working behind the scenes.

I loved helping other people tell their stories.
Then it dawned on me that I wasn’t telling my own story… 😳

I realised that if I wanted people to trust my business, I couldn't hide behind it.

I had to become the face of it.

That meant getting really clear on who I was, what I wanted to be known for and how I wanted people to experience me. And that took time.

Looking back, that was the beginning of my personal brand.

It's also why I believe clarity should come before visibility.

You don't build trust by trying to be everywhere, or by being someone else.

You build it by showing up consistently, adding value for your audience and building genuine connections.

If you've been holding back because you're not sure how you want to show up or what you want to be known for, I'd love to help.

Last night Yorb hosted the Manawatū Business Chamber BA5, and it was a full house. CEO Daniel Goymer shared how his team...
24/07/2026

Last night Yorb hosted the Manawatū Business Chamber BA5, and it was a full house.

CEO Daniel Goymer shared how his team uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to create alignment, accountability and a clear growth plan.

It was a good reminder that successful businesses grow because they’re built on the right foundations.

Yorb is the naming rights sponsor of this year's Manawatū Business Awards.

Entries are now open.

Thank you to Yorb for backing an initiative that celebrates business success in our region.

Yes, winning is worth celebrating. But even if you don't take home an award, the process of entering has value. Receiving feedback from experienced judges can give you fresh insights into your business, highlight what's working well, and identify new opportunities.

The awards night on 30th October will be a fabulous event.

Are you entering?

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Palmerston North

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Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+64211052895

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