About us.
Our mission is to equip boys with the skills and mindset to back themselves – so they can meet challenges with confidence and grow into capable, curious young men.
Why we started this.
The seed for TOOLKT was planted when we saw how many boys were not able to “change gear” between Primary School and High School. Not because they weren’t capable, but because they didn’t learn “how to learn”. They were scared to make mistakes, ask good questions, and learn by doing.
And after 1–2 years of plateauing, they fell behind.
We thought - if only - they were more comfortable being uncomfortable. If only - they were better at asking questions. If only - they were prepared to work through hard problems themselves. If only - they knew how to “break down” challenges into smaller parts. If only - they managed their time better.
That’s where TOOLKT was born. To give young teen boys the 8 essential skills to thrive as they transition to High School.
– Dave & Tony
Co-founders, TOOLKT
The Founders.
We met years ago at Icebreaker (New Zealand’s renowned merino wool outdoor and performance clothing brand) and have been swapping big ideas ever since. Both of us are dads – one son, one daughter each – and we couldn’t ignore what we were seeing: too many boys hitting high school without the skills to really fly.
Tony had the spark for TOOLKT. Dave jumped in and cranked up the volume. Now we’re on a mission, to give boys the tools, confidence, and grit they need to thrive in high school and whatever comes next.
Tony Balfour | Co-founder
Tony is a deeply experienced business executive with world class overseas and New Zealand experience with companies like Nike, Monster.com, Seek.com, The Warehouse Group, Icebreaker, Les Mills International and many others. He specialises in consumer based businesses; innovation, and organisational development. He brings a vast array of successful business skills to TOOLKT. He has authored 2 books on leadership.
Dave Wright | Co-founder
Award-winning musician, designer, and enterprise change leader, Dave founded the global touring act Electric Wire Hustle and has helped major organisations like Xero, Trade Me, Icebreaker and RNZ move faster and learn smarter. A certified Enterprise Agile Coach, he blends creativity with sharp systems thinking to guide teams through complex change. “The skills I’ve used to help create products and experiences enjoyed around the world are the same ones TOOLKT will help boys master – so they can take on anything.”
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