There are some people whose presence simply fills the frame – and Vanessa Ronan-Pearce is one of them. A creative strategist, fintech leader and lifelong dancer and singer, she brought a magnetic energy to this shoot that needed nothing more than herself and her story to carry it.
Movement, presence and the story of a leader in flow
Vanessa has spent over two decades at the intersection of creativity and commerce – shaping brands, building communities and driving innovation across the fintech and payments ecosystem. As the founder of industry-defining platforms like the Intersekt FinTech Festival and the Finnie Awards, and recognised among the Top 100 Global Women in Fintech, she’s someone who moves the sector forward as much as she moves through it. This session set out to capture exactly that: her fluidity, her poise, and the presence she carries into every boardroom, stage and conversation.
Innovation, captured in motion
Rather than relying on setting or styling, this shoot let the focus rest entirely on Vanessa. Drawing on her roots as a dancer and performer, we leaned into movement and gesture: capturing her in flow rather than in pose. It’s an approach that mirrors how she works in the world: intuitive, expressive and forward-moving. For a leader whose purpose is helping people and businesses innovate with greater impact, these portraits do more than document – they tell a story of momentum.
A leadership brand built for what’s next
Designed to be timeless and role-agnostic, these images ground Vanessa’s personal brand as she steps into legacy: building the familiarity and trust that matter most for a founder, advisor and innovator, without anchoring her to any single title. Authentic, grounded and unmistakably her. Thinking about how you show up as a leader? Leadership story is the foundation behind a personal brand shoot – not the other way around. Unpack that with us.
Project
Personal brand & movement photography by Liz Pinfold Reed
Client
Vanessa Ronan Pearce
Location
Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
“Not everyone has the natural ‘on camera’ and off camera ability to sparkle like Vanessa. Her ability to hold an audience from stage to boardroom is eveident on camera.” Liz Pinfold Reed
