At Enable, we're proud to support the Canterbury GirlBoss Awards because we know that good ideas deserve encouragement early.
The awards recognise young women across Canterbury who are leading projects, starting businesses and finding practical solutions to real problems. Supporting this kind of initiative aligns with what matters to us. At Enable, we’re focused on creating a more connected, future-ready Canterbury. Through our involvement with the Canterbury GirlBoss Awards, we’re able to support the people behind the ideas that have the potential to create positive change and help innovation grow in our community.
One past recipient who demonstrates the impact of that support is Elisa Harley, founder of Enivo and winner of the 2025 Canterbury GirlBoss Innovation Award.
Solving a problem she saw firsthand
Elisa's entrepreneurial journey began when she was 12, selling succulents before moving into native plants.
As her business grew, she noticed hundreds of discarded plastic plant pots scattered throughout her garden, and she wasn’t alone. An estimated 350 million plastic plant pots are used each year in New Zealand*. This led her to ask a simple question: could there be a better alternative?
At 15, through the GirlBoss Edge Primary Industry Programme, Elisa began researching biodegradable alternatives. That’s where Enivo began: a company developing biodegradable plant pots for the horticulture industry.
From an idea to a business
For Elisa, receiving a Canterbury GirlBoss Award was particularly meaningful because the GirlBoss programme was where the idea for Enivo first took shape.
"Enivo actually started in GirlBoss in 2022, so applying with the same idea as a real, physical product felt very full-circle."
After moving to Christchurch, she discovered the Canterbury GirlBoss Awards and decided to apply.
"Seeing Enivo recognised by a GirlBoss award, when GirlBoss is genuinely how the whole thing started, is something I still can't quite believe. But beyond the recognition, being able to stand in front of other young women and show them what the programme made possible has meant the most. I hope it shows them what's possible for them too."
Progress takes time
One of Elisa's biggest milestones came this year, after more than three years of development.
"We finally have plant pots! After 3.5 years in the making, we had our first week selling samples at Fieldays. We are now prepping for official sales to both nurseries and retail stores."
She says one of the biggest lessons has been balancing strong support with the realities of bringing a new product to market.
"New Zealand really does want to see New Zealand-made products. The support from the industry has been extraordinary. But making it actually happen is hard, expensive, and slow in ways I didn't fully appreciate at the start. The two things exist together: huge goodwill, and real friction. Learning to hold both has been the biggest lesson."
The next stage for Enivo includes launching two new products and beginning international trials in Australia, with plans to explore opportunities in the United States.
Advice for young women starting out
When asked what she'd say to another young woman with an idea, Elisa's advice is grounded in her own experience.
"I believe entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools we have to solve the problems we see every day. There is so much support in New Zealand for young people, more than most realise. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Both are how you actually get somewhere."
Why Enable is supporting the Canterbury GirlBoss Awards
Programmes like the Canterbury GirlBoss Awards give young people the confidence, networks and visibility that can help an early-stage idea become something much bigger.
We're looking forward to celebrating this year's finalists and seeing the ideas, businesses and community initiatives they bring forward.
If Elisa's journey shows anything, it's that recognising someone's potential early can have an impact well beyond the awards themselves.
About Enivo
Enivo is on a mission to reimagine how we grow. We’re creating biodegradable plant pots made 100% in Aotearoa from paper pulp, offering a sustainable alternative to the 350 million plastic pots used each year in New Zealand alone.
We are passionate about loving the land and supporting others to do so too.
Read more about Enivo
