Our (Hi)Story - Why work with us

My observations and experiences

When my fixed-term contract in a local government role ended, I took time to pause, reflect, and ask myself what should come next. With more than 25 years in the workforce, I realised that the same themes kept showing up again and again - no matter the industry, team size, or organisational chart.

Teams usually put themselves last.

Agendas are packed with what needs to be done and when, rather than questions like ‘how can we best do this together?‘.

True collaboration is rare; people rather work side-by-side or quite insulated.

Wouldn’t it be great if teams had the opportunity to discuss how to best approach tasks in a team-ly manner and practise real collaboration?

Induction focuses on paperwork, not people. New team members often face a flurry of formal training rather than social initiatives to include them in the team. New starters are left to “read the room,” decode unspoken rules, and figure out how things are really done here.

Wouldn’t it be great to have open conversations about workplace culture and build trust and empathy through intentional bonding time?

We use the word ‘teamwork’ frequently – but often without really meaning it. True teamwork requires practice, reflection, and a safe space to try, fail, and improve together.

Wouldn’t it be great if teams could strengthen their TeamAbility in a safe space to practise collaboration, learn from mistakes and do better together?

Traditional team-do’s miss the mark. They tend to include adrenaline-pushing activities, awkward dress-ups and alcohol-heavy outings. Teams that genuinely want to celebrate special occasions and nurture team spirit often struggle to find something that is affordable and suits everyone. So, they settle for a meal out where the same people talk to the same people...

Wouldn’t it be great to have more local opportunities for teams to bond, build relationships, and create meaningful memories whilst spending quality TeamTime together?

Professional development is usually passive. It involves people staring at screens for seemingly endless presentations and lots of note-taking. Yet the old saying rings true: Tell me, and I forget; teach me and I remember; involve me, and I learn.

Participants of my workshops often say: “I wish everyone in my team could learn about this.”

Wouldn’t it be great if teams could attend workshops together and engage in hands-on, experiential learning during their TeamTime?

Leaders rarely receive formal leadership training. They get promoted because they are good at their job. Yet, leading a team requires a different mindset and an expanded skillset, especially in today’s fast-changing, complex work environment.

At the same time, most team members were never taught how to be good team players either.

Wouldn’t it be great if these TeamAbility skills could be learned on the job?

Diversity is our daily reality. People from a range of age groups, abilities, ethnicities, gender identities and more come together at work. This richness fuels creativity and innovation - but it can also trigger misunderstandings or hidden conflict.

Managing this mix can feel like herding squirrels (or cats).

Wouldn’t it be great if teams could learn how to embrace diversity and develop an inclusive mindset?

And that’s when it clicked.

All these observations - the gaps, the frustrations, the untapped potential I’d seen over many years - kept pointing to the same simple truth:

Wouldn’t it be great if more people could spend real, meaningful TeamTime together?

This conclusion motivated me to found my new company, TeamTime® - creating opportunities for teams and other groups to learn, grow, connect, and develop their TeamAbility and sysTEAMic solutions in ways that are practical, joyful, and genuinely transformative.

Why TeamTime®?

About Birte, TeamTime® Founder, Director and Chief Facilitator

Birte Becker-Steel is an experienced coach and facilitator who brings together deep professional expertise with genuine personal authenticity. She draws on more than 25 years of designing and delivering workshops that inspire positive, sustainable change.

Guided by the principle “What we nourish will flourish”, Birte champions lifelong learning, curiosity, diversity, equality, holistic wellbeing, and sustainability.

She firmly believes that solutions to our challenges are often closer than we think - yet when we’re deeply immersed in a situation, it’s easy to lose perspective and “not see the wood for the trees.”

This is where an external coach or facilitator can make a powerful difference.

Birte's Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (Education Focus), University of Applied Sciences Cologne (Germany)

• Multiple train-the-trainer qualifications in workplace communication, adult education, stress management, and systemic counselling

• Professional Life Coach (ANZCAL)

• Additional studies in The Science of Wellbeing (Yale), Team Resilience Toolkit (Resilience@Work), Mental Health & Nutrition (University of Canterbury), Outdoor Education, and related fields

Professional Experience

• Ten+ years supporting migrants and strengthening cross-cultural connections as Settling In Service Coordinator (NGO) and Welcoming Communities Officer (Local Government),

• Broad experience in event management, camp leadership, networking and community engagement

• Facilitator for cooking and nutrition programmes with the NZ Nutrition Foundation and NZ Diabetes Foundation

• Curriculum development for various education providers

Professional Experiences

The TeamTime® team

At TeamTime®, we truly believe in collaboration - and we live by this value in everything we do.

While Birte is the driving force behind TeamTime®, we love partnering with other local service providers and sole traders. This allows us to offer you a more comprehensive, wrap-around service tailored to your needs.

We’re looking forward to introducing our wider network soon and sharing more about the people we collaborate with.

In the meantime, we’d like to extend a special thank you to Nicole Tai Photography for supporting the creation of our website. She has an incredible talent for capturing meaningful moments so beautifully.