Office address: Level 3, 2 Allen Street Te Aro, Wellington 6011 
Website: www.humankind.nz 
Year established: 2012 
Company type: human resources services 
Employees: 20+ 
Expertise: recruitment services, HR services, organisational design and structure, EX and engagement, leadership development and coaching, performance management systems, employment relations and compliance, wellbeing and mental health initiatives, DEI strategies, workforce planning and analytics 
Parent company: N/A 
Key people: Kalyn Ponti (CEO); Samantha Gadd (founder); Charlotte Bates and Anna Muir (directors); Charlie Hughes, Megan Kirk, and Nicola Dunn (associate directors) 
Financing status: N/A 

Humankind is a Wellington-based organisational design and employee experience consultancy that provides People & Culture expertise across diverse industries, serving over 1,200 clients. With additional offices in Auckland, their team of over 20 members leverage more than 300 years of combined experience to deliver flexible and cost-effective solutions. Founded 12 years ago, the company’s services help organisations build high-impact cultures and drive meaningful success. 

History of Humankind 

Humankind was founded by Samantha Gadd in 2012 to create a more people-centred alternative to traditional HR practices. The company was established to support organisations in building strong cultures and high-performing teams by leveraging collective expertise. From the start, the firm’s approach focused on designing organisations where long-term success is actively nurtured through investment in people.  

Drawing on extensive local and international experience, the team crafts tailored solutions that build trust and encourage open collaboration. Each client partnership begins with an in-depth discovery process to understand unique organisational goals and challenges. This foundation enables Humankind to create a customised people strategy, balancing immediate needs with sustainable, long-term results. 

Products and Services of Humankind 

Humankind provides a range of tailored services to support organisations in building effective workplace cultures and enhancing people management: 

• organisational design and EX consultancy: services focused on improving organisational structure, employee experience, and performance management 
• managed HR services: includes leadership development, employee insights, and advisory services for employment relations 
• Humankind’s partnerships: 
  - Employment Relations Partnership: expert assistance with employment agreements, policy development, investigations, disciplinary processes, and organisational restructures 
  - Performance Partnership: strategic planning for people management, leadership development, and insights into employee engagement 
  - Organisational Development Partnership: services for project execution, design, performance systems, and wellbeing support 
  - community engagement: initiatives such as the Superhumans network, designed to foster leadership growth 
  - 5min people performance assessment: a streamlined tool to quickly evaluate workforce performance 

Humankind’s service approach begins by aligning with objectives to create impactful, immediate results. This is followed by implementing targeted initiatives that deliver meaningful value. Finally, ongoing review and refinement ensure that each partnership adapts to the organisation’s changing needs. 

Culture at Humankind 

Humankind is known for its supportive work environment, bringing together experts who prioritise client challenges and deliver practical solutions. This team-first culture values flexibility and fosters growth, allowing staff to stay responsive to client needs. Employee benefits include: 

• personal and professional growth: development opportunities and access to an employee-centred design community 
• wellbeing support: flexible arrangements, duvet days, and other health-focused benefits 
• financial rewards: competitive salary packages with a people-first approach 

Client feedback consistently highlights Humankind’s collaborative process and targeted approach.  

The company’s projects begin with tailored HR audits to blend immediate action with long-term cultural strategy, which clients highly appreciate. Key areas include: 

• tailored approach: a flexible method that evolves alongside client needs 
• effective collaboration: insights that address immediate issues while strengthening long-term organisational health 
• people-focused strategies: solutions that support cultural growth and address complex organisational dynamics 

Humankind’s team is dedicated to creating a workplace where people-focused solutions drive impactful change. They aim to improve the future of work by prioritising employee-centred design and innovative practices. 

About Humankind CEO Kalyn Ponti and Key People 

Kalyn Ponti serves as the CEO of the company and an active member of Level Up and Excellent. She previously held leadership roles such as director and district manager at Aritzia, a publicly traded retailer. Ponti completed her studies at Simon Fraser University and graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. 

Humankind’s leadership team features skilled professionals committed to advancing people-focused solutions for clients, which includes: 

• Samantha Gadd serves as founder and marketing lead, overseeing brand strategy and client engagement 
• Charlotte Bates as director of employment relations manages policy guidance, dispute resolution, and employment advisory services 
• Anna Muir acts as director of people and culture, directing HR initiatives and employee engagement strategies 
• Charlie Hughes is an associate director, supporting project management and organisational design initiatives 
• Megan Kirk serves as an associate director, focusing on leadership development and performance frameworks 
• Nicola Dunn as associate director provides expertise in strategic HR planning and advisory services 

The Future at Humankind 

The company recently hosted a gathering in Auckland, bringing together leaders to explore effective organisational design. They presented its EX for Org Performance model, a framework that aligns employee experience with organisational success to foster a thriving and effective workplace culture. Attendees celebrated best practices which position Humankind to drive future innovations in employee experience. 

In another significant project, the company partnered with Manaaki Tāngata|Victim Support to address the pressing issue of victim-blaming. Through this initiative, Humankind demonstrates its dedication to impactful work that promotes a more supportive society. This partnership illustrates how the firm’s mission extends beyond HR to influence positive cultural change in New Zealand, setting the stage for impactful future initiatives.