VILI'S STORY
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I was born at Middlemore hospital in Otahuhu, South Auckland. My parents migrated from Samoa in the 1960s to give our children a better future than what they could provide us with in Samoa. When they moved to New Zealand, they knew little English and had no education.

We grew up in a small house in Otara, and my parents were staunch Christians. Making an appearance at church on a Sunday was all that mattered. As I got into my teenage years, I fell out of my faith because I did not know why I was attending church. I was a troubled kid in school, making the wrong decisions and doing things you shouldn't have as a kid. At the age of 15, I was kicked out of school. I had no choice but to learn how to survive out in the real world. I met my late fiancé in 2006, and it was here that I changed my life for the better.

I joined the roofing industry in 2004 and spent three years working as a labourer. I never took this trade seriously. It was more about just making a wage and surviving on what I could make. My daughter was born in 2008, and it was here that I started to take the roofing trade seriously.

I moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 2011. Although I had some skills I had learnt in New Zealand, I quickly discovered that they were much more advanced than what we would be taught in New Zealand. I had to start from the bottom again and work my way up. It took me three years to try and prove myself to get to the top. From working seven days a week for two years to being pushed back down the pecking order because no one would give me an opportunity. Although I was getting a high salary, it was never about the money for me; money only had a partial impact on it. My parents could never afford a car when we were younger. We would always walk or catch public transport, but having a roof, food and clothes on our back was all that mattered.

In September 2020, Setai Taugaele and I formed Sharp Roofing Limited. In early 2021 we bought Solofa Richard Silipa to help build the company and strengthen the foundation. I don't measure success through money and materials, but I see it through what you give to get to that stage of your life. We come to this earth with nothing and leave with nothing. I believe culture is one of the most important components of a business. Building a positive and healthy way of thinking. Everyone is important. In your team, there is no I in the team.

Roofing is a tough trade, and we're exposed to the heat and cold weather, working at heights in uncomfortable places. Not only is it a physical trade, but it's also mentally draining. It seems that putting on a roof sounds so simple to others. Still, the fundamentals and components In putting it together have a lot more thinking. Understanding what each product can deal with in different climates and weather conditions is key as people spend a lot of money on roof instalments. Walking away from a job and seeing a client smile makes the sacrifices of early mornings and the preparation work worthwhile.