This week we have the pleasure of introducing a familiar face, Wilhelmina Shrimpton, a dynamic storyteller and media professional with over 16 years of experience. Cutting her teeth in New Zealand’s leading newsrooms—from her early days at TVNZ to her impactful roles at RadioLIVE and Newshub—she’s honed her skills in journalism, presenting, and investigative reporting. Now, as the founder of Wils & Co. Media, she’s embracing new opportunities in PR, media training, and consulting. Alongside her successful career, she’s known for her unique sense of style and is passionate about empowering others through authentic storytelling and creative self-expression. Here, we hand over the mic…
In conversation with Wilhelmina Shrimpton:
Tell us a bit about you, your background and your career to date:
Wow, where do I begin? At the heart of it all, I’m a storyteller and a journalist. I’ve worked in various newsrooms for the past 16 years, starting as a baby journo and assignments desk coordinator at TVNZ, before moving to RadioLIVE as a reporter and then making the jump back to TV at Three as a reporter and presenter for the now defunct Newshub Live at 6pm and Newshub Late. I then made one more leap to a different newsroom, as a host and investigative journalist for Today FM (sadly also no longer on air). As many of us know, media is a changeable and moveable feast right now, and it makes me sad that so many of those platforms and stations I just named no longer exist.
Like many others, I was made redundant a couple of times, so I decided to carve out my own path by launching my media business Wils & Co. Media.
I like to think of myself as the ‘Jack of all media trades’, and under the brand I offer freelance hosting/broadcasting, PR, media training, MCing, consulting, and writing. Ultimately I still get to tell stories across a range of different platforms, and I get to work with so many different people, brands and businesses. It’s also pretty empowering being in control of my own career – the added bonus is that the only person who can make me redundant is me!
Is there a moment or story in your career that stands out as a turning point for you?
The only way I could describe that single moment would be that it’s a culmination of moments just like it. It’s the stories where I was able to give the voiceless a voice, the stories where I was able to force change or a response from an otherwise difficult company or party, and it’s the stories that give others the strength to speak out and share their experiences. All of that together made me realise what a privilege it is to have someone open up to you and trust you with their story. No matter how big or small that story is, it means the world to someone, so every story should be treated with the same level of care you’d give your own.
With Wils & Co Media, you’re branching out into so many areas—journalism, presenting, PR and Media Training. What’s got you most excited about this next chapter?
It’s wild to say that I’ve been running Wils & Co. Media for nearly 18 months now, and in that time I’ve worked with so many different businesses. It’s taken me all over New Zealand, and even to India as a newsroom consultant for a month last year. What I’m most excited about is all of the opportunities I don’t even know exist yet. While journalism has always been my bread and butter, the key to growth and success has been diversification and using the skills I gained from all of those years in the newsroom to do work like PR, Media Training, MC work and consultancy. The variety has been wonderful, and to tell stories via so many different mediums and avenues has been a great exercise in adapting to the changing tides of the media industry. I’ve been able to build up a great client base so far, and I can’t wait for all of the new opportunities that 2025 will bring, especially as the economy continues to make a recovery.
Alongside your storied career in journalism, you also gained interest for having a great sense of style. How would you describe your personal style and the role of fashion in your life?
I have loved fashion from the moment I learned what an outfit was as a young girl. I’d flick through my mum’s old Vogue magazines and try on her shoes and clothes, dreaming of the wardrobe I’d be able to build for myself one day. Fashion is definitely my creative outlet, and pulling together an outfit has a wonderful way of igniting a fire in my belly and inspiring me for whatever I’m planning to take on that day. An outfit can make you feel powerful for a meeting, or flirty for a summer evening drinks. It can make you feel elegant and chic for a black tie event, or a bit cool in some sleek elevated activewear for a Sunday afternoon. I love classic styles like blazers, denim, trench coats and suiting – but I also love to push the boundaries every now and then with a statement sleeve/shoulder (or as I like to call it a party sleeve). Ultimately regardless of what the trends are, I will always make sure to dress for my body.
Media is constantly changing, and you’ve been through so many different phases of it. What advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue a career like yours, especially when it comes to staying authentic in such a fast-paced industry?
Change is the only constant, so keeping your mind open for new opportunities is key. The great thing is, there will always be a hunger for content; it’s just the way it’s packaged up and presented that’s changing. Many of your skills will be easily transferable so you can tell stories in a range of different ways, and if you’re not sure, then lean on the people in your life who have that experience. Network and talk to people who have walked the path already. There’s a lot of value in their knowledge and often all it takes is an hour and a cup of coffee (or a spicy marg) to hatch a plan and get a bit of direction. Lastly, stepping back and remembering your why. Don’t see a story, client or opportunity as just a box ticking exercise, remember the value and importance they have.
How do you maintain life balance?
This is a tricky one, as I’m still trying to figure that out. I was a little better when I was working full-time in a newsroom and I could go home and completely unplug for the day. Working for myself is a little different, as I end up doing a lot of overtime and weekends knowing that it’s all for me. The way I try to maintain that balance is by sticking to routine, and making sure I still do things regularly like catching up with friends, going to the gym or taking the dog for a walk. When I struggle with the juggle, that’s when my incredible fiance steps in and reminds me to slow down (even though he’d argue I don’t listen to him sometimes!)
Do you have a daily or life mantra to live by?
Fake it till you make it.
Quick-fire questions
My go-to New Zealand designers are… Paris Georgia and Caitlin Crisp
The next item on my wardrobe wishlist is… A classic brown leather jacket – I’m tossing up between a few different styles at the moment.
My favourite place to dine… the absolute classic that is Soul Bar.
My next holiday destination… Thailand
My guilty pleasure TV show or movie is… Selling Sunset and Emily in Paris
Three beauty products I can’t live without… Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (all of my friends can vouch for this), Emma Lewisham Supernatural Blemish Face Serum, and lastly Biome Perfecting Oil with Granactive Retinoid. Becks who created the oil used to be a client of mine, but now I’m her best customer too. Her oil has changed the game for my skin, and I am hooked!
