Va'a Collective® was founded on a simple belief: everyone deserves the confidence, capability and opportunity to navigate a rapidly changing digital world.
As artificial intelligence and digital tools continue to reshape our world, many communities, organisations and leaders are being asked to navigate unfamiliar waters. Too often, the people who could benefit most from these opportunities are the last to receive the support, knowledge and confidence needed to participate fully.
Va'a Collective® was created to change that.
The Story Behind Va'a Collective®
The inspiration for Va'a Collective® comes from a deeply personal story. A paddle gifted to my father became a symbol of service, leadership and helping others find their way. As I reflected on my parents' journey from Samoa to Aotearoa and their commitment to supporting others, I came to see the paddle as a reminder that navigation is not about leading from the front. It is about helping people navigate change with confidence, capability and care.
That story became one of the foundations of the AI Wayfinding® Framework and the work we do today.
Rooted in Pacific values and guided by the AI Wayfinding® framework, Va'a Collective® works alongside communities, leaders and organisations to navigate the digital ocean with care, culture and confidence.
Our work brings together AI capability building, knowledge navigation, digital inclusion, leadership development and systems change. We help people move beyond uncertainty and build practical skills that create meaningful impact in their communities and organisations.
Whether supporting a community group, a health provider, a local library, a not-for-profit organisation or a leadership network, our focus remains the same: helping people confidently navigate change while staying connected to their values, culture and purpose.
At the heart of our work is the belief that technology should strengthen people, not replace them.
The va'a represents the community.
The paddle represents agency, confidence and capability.
The navigator represents collective wisdom.
The crew represents people.
The stars represent our values:
• Fa'aaloalo (Respect)
• Tautua (Service)
• Va Fealoa'i (Relationships)
• Fa'atuatuaga (Trust)
• Tutusa (Equity)
The ocean represents the digital world.
The islands represent opportunities, tools and destinations.
The reefs represent risks, barriers and harm.
The journey represents systems change.
Together, they form the AI Wayfinding® Framework for navigating the future with confidence, capability and care.
About Va'a Collective®
Founder
Lautalie Schmidt-Geen
Meet Lautalie Schmidt-Geen
Lautalie Schmidt-Geen is the Founder and Director of Va'a Collective® and creator of the AI Wayfinding® Framework, a culturally grounded approach that helps communities navigate the digital ocean with confidence, capability and care.
A first-generation New Zealander of Samoan, German and Chinese heritage, Lautalie traces her Samoan heritage to the villages of Safotu, Avao and Faleapuna.
She brings more than 30 years of experience spanning technology, community training, paediatrics, health, community development, governance, leadership and the not-for-profit sector. Her career has included work in the computer industry, community education and training, digital health, and community development, providing a unique foundation for her work in AI Wayfinding® and systems change.
Her work is grounded in Pacific values of Fa'aaloalo (Respect), Tautua (Service), Va Fealoa'i (Relationships), Fa'atuatuaga (Trust) and Tutusa (Equity), combined with a passion for helping communities access the opportunities created by emerging technologies.
Lautalie has worked with health providers, community organisations, libraries, leadership groups and regional networks across Aotearoa and the Pacific, supporting people to build confidence, capability and resilience in an increasingly digital world.
She is particularly passionate about ensuring that Pacific, Māori, ethnic and underserved communities are not left behind as technology continues to evolve.
Through Va'a Collective®, Lautalie helps organisations and communities turn complex technology into practical tools that strengthen capability, support informed decision-making and create better outcomes for the people they serve.
As the creator of AI Wayfinding®, Lautalie combines cultural wisdom, lived experience and emerging technology to help communities and organisations pick up their paddle, navigate the digital ocean, and create stronger futures through confidence, capability and care.
Strategic Collaborations
Va’a Collective works alongside trusted partners across Aotearoa to deliver specialist expertise where required.
Atarau brings expertise in Indigenous education, youth development, and community-led enterprise. With whakapapa to Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Rauru and Ngāti Raukawa, his work centres on rangatahi development, social enterprise design, and embedding Te Reo me ōna tikanga within leadership and learning spaces.
When appropriate, Va’a Collective and Mahi AI collaborate on initiatives that require combined strengths in AI capability, Indigenous education, and community development.